Defence Online

A grade II-listed former bank in Carmarthenshire could be turned into a wine bar if newly submitted plans are given the green light.Planning consultancy McCartneys, on behalf of its clients, has submitted listed building and full-planning applications covering the change of use of 76 Rhosmaen Street in Llandeilo.The building was originally constructed in the early 1900s for Midland Bank, which later became HSBC, and was awarded grade II-listed status in 1991. The branch closed in 2014 and the property has remained vacant since then.It was marketed for a year before it was acquired by the applicants in June 2015 with the aim of turning it into a wine bar.They are said to be “keen to ensure the retention of the history of the building and the character of the area”.The scheme proposes and series of internal repairs and alterations in order to convert the building to a bar, with the exterior to remain unchanged.A mezzanine floor would also be installed, increasing the overall floor space. Planning documents have said that this change “allows the building to become profitable” and without it future uses would “struggle to make the most use of the space”.A planning application was submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council in August 2016 and validated on 15 September.