PLANS for a car dealership showroom in Tredegar have been lodged with Blaenau Gwent county planners.
The proposal is designed to allow the developers to bounce back from a devastating fire last year.
The application has been submitted by Mr Llewellyn of Ron Skinner and son limited and is for the retrospective change of use of Unit E on the Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate in Tredegar to the sale, display, and storage of motor vehicles.
Associated works that come with the scheme include landscaping.
The application said that the work was done to change the use of the unit had taken place back in December.
Planning agent Arfon Hughes of Mango planning and development said: “In August 2024 the company’s premises experienced a devastating fire which destroyed the entire building, equipment and some 350 of the vehicles parked within and near it.
“The existing building was destroyed and the remaining structure unsafe.”
He explained that following discussions with the council the building was demolished and the site cleared “in anticipation” of its redevelopment in the future.
Mr Hughes continued: “In the interim, to maintain continuity of its business, the adjoining and at that time, vacant unit and its yard curtilage, was re-purposed to serve as a showroom, sales area, vehicle storage yard and administration offices and staff transferred across from the original site.”
The unit is 965 square metres which has offices a mezzanine balcony and opens out to a yard area to the north.
Mr Hughes added: “The proposed use is primarily car sales, with associated office and storage uses.
“As such and given that it simply replicates and use previously provided on the same estate, the proposal ought to be entirely acceptable in principle.
“The use of the premises does not raise any material concerns on matters of planning significance and will help an existing major local employer continue its business operations following the devastating fire last year.”
A decision on the application is expected by May 25.
The fire at the dealership happened on August 16 last year and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said that over 100 fire fighters tackled the fire as it spread from one end of the unit to the other.
The building was still smoking well into the following day.
