A call to turn Cardigan’s former Lloyds TSB branch into a restaurant has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

Permission for a change of use of the former branch at 14 High Street, along with works to its fire escape was approved last year.

An officer report recommending approval for the 2025 scheme said: “The application seeks planning permission for a change of use of the existing building to allow for Class A1 (retail), A2 (financial and professional services), and A3 (food and drink) uses.

“The previous use of the building as a bank has ceased, and the proposed change aims to facilitate future occupation by a range of potential users.

“At this stage, it is stated that no specific business occupiers or detailed operational plans have been identified and therefore any future works to the building would require separate listed building and planning consent, where necessary.”

Since then, a further application to county planners for internal and external works in tandem with the previous approval, along with a related listed building call, have been submitted outlining the proposed changes in greater detail.

The Grade-II-listed branch, originally built in the 1880s as Brecon Old Bank, closed in June, 2024.

The scheme, submitted by Mr Golunski through Harries Planning Design Management, proposes using the former bank as a restaurant.

A supporting statement says: “The proposal offers the opportunity to restore and celebrate the history of a prominent historic banking premises with an interesting history as one of the last of Wales’ independent banks.

“The reuse of the ground floor as an open-plan restaurant is appropriate, the layout broadly following that of the historic banking hall. The main alterations proposed are necessary due to fire regulations and staff facilities as well as the desire to maximise use of the secluded rear section and garden.”

An officer report recommending approval said: “The proposal involves the retention of the principal building, with restaurant accommodation located at ground floor level. The ground floor would contain customer seating areas, a bar, kitchen facilities, storage areas and accessible toilet facilities. The existing vaults would be retained and utilised for storage purposes.

“The first and second floors would be used for staff facilities, training rooms, storage and ancillary operational spaces. Internally, the works comprise removal of modern partitions and alterations to facilitate the restaurant layout.”

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County planners approved the latest application subject to conditions.