AN EMPTY unit in a town’s pedestrianised shopping centre can be converted to a coffee shop, planners have agreed.
Rookman Properties asked for change of use planning permission from A1 class, which covers retail uses, to a mixed A1/A3 which covers food including takeaways and eating in.
Information submitted on behalf of the firm said it is increasingly hard to let shops in Caldicot.
The unit is at number seven Wesley Buildings, Newport Road the main shopping precinct and has been advertised since September 2024 with a rent of £19,500 a year.
Chepstow and Bristol-based property consultant Julian Bladen, who has had joint responsibility for marketing the property, said in a letter provided to Monmouthshire County Council’s planning department one unit in the town has been available to let for more than five years.
Mr Bladen stated in his letter: “Unfortunately, there is limited interest in the property and this reflects the general situation in Caldicot town centre. There are currently multiple vacant retail premises and a very low level of prospective occupiers for A1 use operators.
“Some properties in the town centre have been vacant for several years, which clearly illustrates the shortage of active requirements from A1 use operators to take space in the immediate vicinity of the subject property. This includes 43 Newport Road Caldicot, which we have advertised since November 2019.”
The application stated the council had, in June last year, approved a change of use application from office use to retail. A previous application for A3 use was approved, in 2014, but wasn’t implemented.
The application stated the hot food will be limited to toasting, warming and reheating meaning no primary cooking requiring a commercial kitchen would be required or an extract, flue and duct.
Permission for branding and adverts will be sought at a later stage.
The council has approved the application with opening times of 6.30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sundays.
