Revised planning application to be drawn-up for redevelopment of Llandudno's former Tudno Castle Hotel

Tudno Developments Ltd, a part of Opus Land (North) are behind the development plans.

In March 2018, planning permission was obtained for the hotels redevelopment into a 63-bed hotel, three restaurants, two retail units and a gym along with the recreation of the buildings listed façade.

Since then, the operator requirements have changed due to economic changes in the market. As a result, further changes are now required in order to provide a further 27 hotel rooms helping to further support the tourist industry in Llandudno.

The new development will comprise of a 90-bedroom hotel, one restaurant and three retail/restaurant units and a gym/business unit.

A proposed perspective view from Conway Road and the approach to Llandudno town centre. Picture: Design and Access Statement

These changes require a new planning application to Conwy County Council.

A Design and Access Statement states: "The proposals will create a 90 bedroom ‘Premier Inn’ hotel with its own restaurant and reception facilities at lower ground floor level and bedrooms on the upper floors. This is the principle use of the building.

"An increased demand for hotel bedrooms from the operator, coupled with a decrease in demand for retail/restaurant units has driven the requirement for this revised planning application.

"The lower ground floor of the ‘existing’ reconstructed building now contains one reduced size restaurant/retail unit.

"The site is ‘completed’ with a 2½ storey addition containing two restaurant/retail units with a further business or gym unit on the uppermost floor.

A design development sketch, illustrating how the proposals mediate in scale between the mass of the existing listed façade and the retail buildings to the rear. Picture: Design and Access Statement

"These units are adjacent to Parc Llandudno Retail Park and are of a size and scale that mediates between the existing building and smaller retail buildings immediately to the South."

Works started on the site in January 2017.

The document adds: "Due to natural deterioration of the structure of the wall to Mostyn Broadway, significant movement was experienced and it was declared unsafe by Local Authority Building Control and resulted in controlled demolition of that section of the façade that was to be otherwise retained.

"Approval was subsequently granted to an amendment application (ref 0/43948/43949) which proposed a faithful rebuilding of the felled portion of the building. During the demolition of the Mostyn Broadway façade, it became apparent that the quality of the original construction of the hotel walls was poor, in mixed material and the masonry was not well bonded or ‘toothed-in’.

"A separate structural report on the condition of the remaining wall to Vaughan Street was submitted. The report concluded that there was no safe method available to enable the existing Vaughan Street masonry wall to be retained.

"The proposed amendments included in the scheme for this application comprises: fitting out of the the previous two restaurant units at upper ground floor level to provide an additional 24 Premier Inn bedrooms; a small extension to the rear of the building at first floor level and ‘conversion’ of the space to the rear of the first floor ‘business/gym’ unit to provide a further four PI bedrooms (bringing the total to 90 bedrooms); an integrated reception and restaurant scheme at lower ground floor that replaces the previous proposal for a ‘Beefeater’ restaurant; a reduced size unit at lower ground floor level.

"Designs for the original scheme evolved over a number of meetings with the Conwy County Borough Council Planning and Conservation Officers.

"Both Conservation Officer and CADW have been satisfied that the details submitted for re-building the façade to Vaughn Street were as accurate and authentic as possible, both in recording and sampling of the existing facades and proposed materials for its reconstruction.

"This work is largely complete, with the currently approved 63 bedroom scheme due for completion on site in December 2020."

The Tudno Castle is a Grade II listed building built in the 1870s.

A spokesperson for Tudno Developments Ltd said: “Plans for this site have been ongoing since the buildings demolition in 2014 and we want to deliver this £12m development for the people of Llandudno now more than ever.

“Overall, we estimate that our proposal will generate approximately 110 much-needed jobs for local people in Llandudno.”

“We invite the community to get involved in the public consultation by visiting our project website or calling the information line.”

Visit www.tudnocastle.consultationonline.co.uk.

Residents can also provide feedback and request further information by contacting the project team on 0800 298 7040, or email feedback@consultation-online.co.uk.