3:10pm Friday 2nd January 2009
By South Wales Argus Newsdesk
WORK to build a nightclub in Abergavenny town centre has been put on hold.
The architect behind the designs to build a nightclub, restaurant, wine bar, offices and shopping arcade on derelict land adjacent to the Hen and Chickens Hotel in Flannel Street blamed the credit crunch for the delay.
“Work was due to start in January 2008 on the scheme which includes a wine-bar, discotheque aimed at the over 25s and four shops,” said Roger Field of Field Thomas Architects.
“The site is on stop because of the economic climate. It’s a mixed development which relies on office use, but the site owners DT Civils still have another two years to begin work,” he added.
Abergavenny Mayor, Cllr John Prosser said: “With the current financial climate and the forecast of hard times ahead we need to encourage developments in Abergavenny, especially following the recent closure of shops and loss of jobs.”
“Uncertainty about the future tends to delay commitment on new projects,” he added.
The Llanfoist-based company first unveiled plans for the complex in 2004, but caused controversy with opposition from Gwent Police and the town council, who raised concerns that it would cause noise and nuisance problems.
Monmouthshire planners rejected the scheme in 2006. It was then amended to include four shops and a restaurant on the ground floor with an arched entrance from Flannel Street and a sitting-out area for the restaurant under a glazed roof.
The basement would include toilets and storage space for the shops and a bistro.
The disco is planned for the first floor with a caretaker’s flat above.
In 2006 an informal hearing was held by National Assembly to hear the company’s appeal.
The inspector allowed the appeal with several conditions, including a 2am closure, but also awarded costs against MCC, saying they acted unreasonably in refusing the plans.
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