Store to come up at former pub site

Potential plans to build “much needed” affordable homes and a shop on the site of a former pub in Pontllanfraith have emerged.

The Crown Inn was demolished in 2021 after a planning application by Llanover Estates was approved by Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Now, Penllwyn Estates has submitted a pre-application to build a “high-quality” three-floor apartment block and a convenience store on the site.

The plans were then circled to residents in Pontllanfraith.

A pre-application consultation is used to improve the quality of planning applications and improve the likelihood of them being approved by the council.

Pre-applications were introduced in 2016 by the Welsh government with the aim to involve communities more in the planning of developments that affect them, before final decisions are made.

The plans for the brownfield site include a 370 square metre shop, six one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments – all apartments will be classed as affordable.

The apartments will be located on the first two floors of the block, and a roof terrace will be on the top floor. Balconies for the apartments are also proposed in the plans.

Concerns were raised about the height of the apartment block during the pre-application consultation process, therefore the plans were amended and the height of the building was reduced by one storey.

The design and access statement described the development as an opportunity to “enhance the appearance of a brownfield site” and “create much needed accommodation”.

If approved, the shop would be open from 7am until 11pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 8am until 10pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

Seventeen car parking spaces will be available for customers – including two disabled spaces – in addition to six bike spaces and one motorbike space.

The trees surrounding the site will remain and more plants will be added if needed.