PLANS for five flats above a supermarket in the centre of Milford Haven have been approved.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, CKs Foodstores Ltd, through agent Josephine Davies, sought approval for a change of use of a first-floor supermarket shop store area to five studio flats at 55-57, Charles Street, an amendment from an initial application for six flats.

The application was supported by Milford Haven Town Council.

An officer report recommending approval said a public consultation exercise was held on the initial plans, with one response from a member of the public who “did not raise any objection to the principle of conversion to flats but had concerns with regards to the impact of the proposal upon the privacy of existing nearby occupiers”.

It said that amendment to a smaller number of flats had allayed that concern.

The report added: “It is considered that the proposed layout of the flats is an appropriate response to the building, having regard to its form and scale and its location. New access and window openings have been proposed to accommodate the conversion of the first floor and these are considered appropriate to the proportions of the existing building and will serve to improve its design and appearance by providing variation to the building fenestration, particularly to the eastern elevation along Priory Street and to the rear onto Robert Street, in turn improving the vitality and animation at street level, uplifting a presently tired and uninspiring building in this prominent corner, town centre location.”

It went on to say: “The introduction of an entrance (which will lead to a stairwell to the commercial unit below) and patio doors onto private ‘front garden’ areas to flats 4 and 5 will significantly change this area, from the back of a commercial building/service area to a residential frontage which positively addresses Robert Street and the existing residential on the opposite side of the road.”

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The application was conditionally approved by county planners.