PLANS to turn a former school building to a motorcycle showroom have been submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council.
An application by Noel Davies of Merlin Autos Wales Ltd seeks to change the use of the former Castle School Building, Snowdrop Lane, Haverfordwest to the showroom, which also includes an ancillary on-site café.
The site is currently vacant, having previously been used for cookery and teaching provision for the former independent Castle School, the use finishing last year; prior to that it was occupied by RAOB Lodge/Snowdrop Bar.
A supporting statement through agent Ian Bartlett Planning and Architectural Services says: “The submitted scheme is required to relocate to sustain the viability of the existing business operation Merlin Motorcycles currently located in the Prendergast area of Haverfordwest.
“Merlin Motorcycles, a subsidiary of Merlin Auto Services, was established in March 2016 to cater to the local motorcycle community in Pembrokeshire. Merlin Motorcycles operates from a former car showroom in Prendergast, Haverfordwest, with a floor area of only 122 square metres.
“Since its inception, the company has experienced steady growth and has outgrown its current premises. Recently, the installation of double yellow lines on the highway outside the Prendergast site has posed challenges in terms of parking and customer accessibility. The lack of space in the current location, limits the amount of stock that can be displayed and stored on site.”
It adds: “Merlin Motorcycles has diligently searched for suitable premises within Haverfordwest but to date has been unsuccessful. Given the nature of motorcycle sales, the enterprise requires a level vehicular double-door access that is not readily available to any existing vacant retail premises in Haverfordwest.
“It is expected that the relocation of the business to a larger premises would facilitate the requirement for an increase in staff members to meet the demands of the business and to provide high levels of customer service.
“The site also provides the opportunity to offer an ancillary on-site café serving hot and cold beverages, cakes and light lunches. It is not proposed to offer hot food, and the café would not operate independently from the retail sales aspect of the enterprise, providing a service primarily to customers visiting for motorcycle sales.
“As motorcycle lifestyle brands increasingly leverage their physical retail spaces to incorporate in-store cafes, this move aligns with the evolving trends in the industry and offers opportunities for community engagement.”
The proposal will be considered by county planners at a later date.
