A planning application has been submitted to change the use of 75 Eastgate, Cowbridge, from commercial property to three 2 bedroom apartments.

The application is for: "Proposed demolition of rear outbuilding, change of use to provide three apartments, two-storey rear extension, roof dormer, car parking, landscaping and associated works".

A car park with 3 spaces will be provided if the application goes through but they also reinstate the close proximity of the property to the local amenities and facilities and the on-street parking available near the property.

The applicant has identified the site as an ideal and sustainable development opportunity to provide much-needed new apartments for the local area.

They have recently been involved in the housing schemes in Cowbridge (North Road and Eastgate) and the granting of permission for a large residential development at Darren Farm has focused on houses rather than apartments.

The site currently lies vacant following the relocation of a hairdressing salon, Fich and Ramous, in December 2018 which has since moved to 71 High Street.

Herbert R. Thomas (HRT), who has been marketing the property wrote a supporting letter to the application which detailed the issues they had been facing with moving the property on.

They said: ''There has been very limited commercial interest in the unit.

''The High Street has struggled over the last few years and those off-pitch units in the secondary locations such as 75 Eastgate have been hardest hit...

''In years gone by, Herbert R Thomas would have been confident of re-letting the unit, but recent market activity on the High Street and the ominous retail market activity, in general, suggest that demand from retailers is focused on the prime pitch only; which has also been very constrained in recent months...

''In summary, having marketed these premises for over a year, it is considered that, in the current market, there is limited scope to secure a new commercial tenant in the foreseeable future.''

The applicant states that a thorough marketing campaign on the property was not successful and so believes the change of use would not undermine the retail function of Cowbridge's high street.

The proposal is located within a conservation area, but the applicant believes that they will be preserving and enhancing the appearance of the building.

They seek to demolish the ''modern unsympathetic outbuilding and to

• Provide new high-quality apartments in a sustainable location;

• Enable the regeneration of an accessible, vacant brownfield site;
• Provide significant improvements to the appearance of the site and local area;
• Create valuable local employment opportunities during the construction phase