Plans to turn former village Post Office into new eatery set for go ahead

Plans to convert a former village Post Office into a new restaurant and coffee shop look set to be given the go ahead.

The application for the disused building on Station Road, Rossett, has been recommended for approval by the council’s chief planning officer.

The building has been vacant since 2016 when the owners of the then Spar and Post Office took the decision to shut for good in response to the difficult economic climate.

However plans submitted to the council proposed that the property is converted into a new restaurant and coffee shop, which would operate between 8:30am and 10pm.

Alterations would also be made to the existing residential accomodation on the first floor.

The applicants described the existing building as being in “overall poor condition” with the existing shop front “detracting from the character and appearance of the Rossett Conservation area.”

As part of the plans the applicants state that the cafe will be run by someone who “already has a successful cafe/restaurant in the centre of Llangollen, which also has no on-site parking.”

The exterior would also be altered to create a “traditional style shop front” which is described as “contributing to the Conservation Area.”

Although the plans have been recommended for approval by the council’s chief planning officer, concerns have been raised about the lack of parking and increased noise by the local residents.

A document due before planning committee members on Monday November 7 states that 15 letters of objections were received along with five letters of support.

Comments were also made about a lack of parking by the council’s highways department, which stated that “the proposed development also has the potential to result in an increased occurrence of indiscriminate parking.”

However the highways officer continues onto to reference a recent planning application to build a new community hub on Rossett Green, which was approved by planning committee members last month.

Similar concerns were raised at the time about a lack of parking, but the highways officer notes that “in the light of this recent planning consent, it may be viewed as difficult for the Highway Authority to object to the current application on the grounds of inadequate parking provision.”

Addressing the concerns over parking and highways, the council’s chief planning officer said that they believed the “development is likely to bring about a reduction in traffic movements on the highway compared to the previous use, when the both the nature and hours of use are considered.”

The officer continues onto say: “Whilst there are only 2 parking spaces currently on site, there is some time restricted parking on Station Road, along with a public car park nearby upon which the exiting use relies.

“There is no reason to believe that the proposed development cannot continue to utilise the same parking spaces and nearby
public car park that supports the existing lawful use as a shop.

“It is reasonable to conclude that not everyone visiting a restaurant will travel by themselves in cars. Whilst people do travel to restaurants individually, it is often the case that couples, families or groups share vehicles.

“People also travel to restaurants in taxis requiring drop off and pick only. The site is also located in a sustainable location where a large number of users can arrive on foot from within the community that it is intended to serve, or by cycle or by the frequent Wrexham to Chester bus service that runs through the village.”

The chief planning officer continues onto say: “The premises has been closed for a number of years and local residents have become accustomed to the reduction in people and traffic movements associated with its lawful use as a convenience store.

“Whilst this is understandable, the fall-back position cannot be ignored and taking this, as well as the fact that impacts directly associated with the development can be controlled by condition, the proposed use will not have a detrimental impact upon local residential amenity or highway safety, and could easily be viewed as delivering a betterment.

“The alterations to the building are seen as an enhancement not only to the appearance of the conservation area, but to the
character and appearance of the general locality.

“The proposal therefore accords with relevant UDP policies and guidance.”

The application will be discussed by members of the council’s executive board at a meeting on Monday 7 November at 4pm. The meeting will also be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.