Llangollen take away allowed

Denbighshire County Council refused planning permission to change the use of a vacant shop premises into a take away facility. It was their contention that this would be an over provision of 'non-retail' activity in Llangollen town centre. The applicant decided to engage Owen Devenport in the appeal against this decision. A detailed study was prepared by Owen Devenport of the town centre uses as part of the appeal submissions, where it was found that in fact there was not the over-supply of cafes, take aways etc that the Local Planning Authority had suggested. In allowing the appeal the Planning Inspector stated that the survey indicated that the main shopping areas of Llangollen was still dominated by retail (A1) uses and this appeal proposal would not threaten that balance. The shop had also been vacant for some considerable time and the Inspector also felt that in terms of the broader perception of the town centre, the vacant property should be put to beneficial use.