Plans to turn a Grade II listed former shop into an art gallery and offices are set to be given the go ahead.

A meeting of Conwy’s planning committee next Wednesday will consider the plans, recommended for approval, for the vacant shop at 7, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, changed into offices as well as having an occasional performance area and  use for the sale of artwork.

The ground floor area would also include a small café area.

A report before councillors said: “The building is Grade II listed and sits in a central position within the Colwyn Bay Conservation Area.

“The building itself has an attractive neo-classical ashlar faced elevation which faces Abergele Road and inside it encompasses a basement, ground floor and first and second floors which have again been vacant for some time.“The original shop front is a key feature of the building and contributes to the building’s neo-classical highly distinctive commercial look.

“The shop front has been extensively altered previously and the scheme proposed seeks to remove unsympathetic signage and roller shutters and reinstate a canopy with bronze detailing and columns.

“Set back from the front edge of the canopy a modern planar glazed shop front will be utilised, although contemporary it will have continuous bronze bottom trim and bronze framed doors to ensure uniformity.”

No objections have been received to the development.

The report concluded: “The proposal represents the reuse and conversion of a vacant Grade II listed building which sits within a prominent position within Colwyn Bay town centre and its surrounding conservation area.

“It is recognised that the proposal does not meet the requirements of the development plan’s retail policies, however officers consider that the need to convert and retain the listed building outweigh the need to comply with the associated planning policy."

“Officers recommend that the proposal should be supported as it is aligns with the regeneration aims of Colwyn Bay and the need to preserve and enhance buildings with cultural and heritage importance.”