AFTER there were suggestions they were not properly marketing the premise, Newydd Housing has confirmed they have withdrawn a controversial planning amendment for Barry’s Castle Hotel and intend to undertake further “marketing exercises”.
In July, at a Barry Town Council planning committee meeting, councillors questioned Newydd Housing’s intentions to build a further eight flats in the Castle, on Jewel Street, which had, in the original planning application, been listed for community space and public house refurb.
During the meeting, Labour councillor Sian Thomas, of the Dyfan ward, questioned Newydd’s determination to reopen the space to the community, saying: “The Castle Public House wasn’t even listed on letting sites for pub trade to try and get it filled.”
Now, Newydd say they are going to undertake “further marketing exercises” to find out the viability of transforming the old bar area.
Jason Wroe, Chief Executive of Newydd said while a “disappointing set back”, he admitted there was strong opposition to the amendment.
Mr Wroe said: "Following feedback from planning officers we have agreed to withdraw the application for an additional eight flats at The Castle.
“We now intend to undertake a further marketing exercise and subject to any viable and acceptable offers received, resubmit the application.
“This is obviously disappointing, but we appreciate the level of interest and objections the proposal has attracted and are keen to ensure we are doing the best we can for the community."
In 2019, planning permission was granted to Newydd Housing to transform three Barry town centre pubs into flats, including the Windsor Hotel on Holton Road, Sea View Club on Dock View Road and the Castle Hotel.
At the Castle, the planning application included making major changes to allow for 14 affordable apartments and, crucially, refurbishing and re-using the existing pub.
But then, in summer this year, an amendment to the planning application was made proposing turning the bar area into another eight flats.
Councillor Millie Collins, a member of the town council’s planning committee and a representative of Barry Docks area, said: “The original application was a linked plan to turn three local pubs into housing, but retain part of one of them, the Castle Hotel, as a bar for local residents to have somewhere to socialise in their community.
“We were disappointed when that plan was changed amongst claims that there was no interest in running a pub at this location, when it had previously existed for more than one hundred years.”
Town councillor Dennis Clarke, of the Buttrills ward, said: “The consultation feedback form provided by Newydd Housing Association in 2019 says they wanted to provide a refurbished public house at the Castle Hotel.
“The planning permission for all three developments was granted on the basis of the continued community use of the Castle Hotel, on balance with the loss of the other pubs.
“Newydd should make good on their obligation to maintain a community asset in the Barry Docks area, and not be allowed to move the goalposts to get out of their promises to the people of Barry.”
Got a story in Barry? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.
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