Councillors will be advised to approve plans to convert a dilapidated office in Ystradgynlais into flats.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way committee on Wednesday, September 24, councillors will receive a report on an application by Dee Muchenje for the former St John Ambulance office on Derwen Road in the town.

In July, Ms Muchenje lodged a change of use planning application with the council so that the building can change from an office to residential use.

This would allow the building to be converted into three flats – a mix of one- and two-bedroom homes.

The application has been “called in” front of the Planning committee by one of the two Powys County councillors that represent the area, Cllr Huw Williams, who is also a member of the Planning committee, and Cllr Sarah Williams (both Labour – Abercraf and Ystradgynlais).

They said: “Residents have expressed concerns about several aspects of the application.

“Therefore, on their behalf, I would request that the application be called in for discussion by committee.”

Huw Griffiths is the planning agent for Ms Muchenje.

Mr Griffiths said that the building had been used by the charity as offices and a training centre for volunteers.

Mr Griffiths said: “However, this long-term use has come to an end, leaving the property vacant and in need of significant repair and refurbishment.

“There are office space provisions within the town centre and designated employment sites, therefore Ystradgynlais would not experience the loss of the building to a residential conversion.

“The changing work culture has contributed to the reduced demand for office space.”

Mr Griffiths added that an online search in Ystradgynlais in April found no one- or two-bedroom properties available to rent in the town.

In her report, Senior Planning Officer Catherine James said that nine objections had been received against the proposal.

Reasons for these objections included: increase in traffic, loss of parking, noise nuisance, community safety, and that the development would be out of keeping with character of the area.

Ms James said: “The building is currently vacant and showing signs of disrepair and neglect.

“The proposed scheme, along with associated landscaping improvements, including new boundary fencing and biodiversity enhancement, will result in a general uplift to the environmental quality of the surrounding residential area.

“Given that the site did not attract interest for continued commercial use, it can be reasonably demonstrated that the land and premises are no longer required for employment purposes.

“The proposal would not result in an under-provision of employment land or premises in the local area, nor would it prejudice the operational use of surrounding employment sites, of which there are none in the immediate vicinity.”

Due to this, she recommends that councillors give the scheme conditional consent.