CDN planning won a planning appeal on behalf of the owner of Bar St James after an application submitted for a Change of Use application from office uses to bar/restaurant were refused by the City and County of Swansea on the grounds of traffic and parking impact and also because the property fell just outside the boundary of the Uplands local centre.

CDN argued that the traffic impact would in fact be less significant should the Change of Use go ahead as the previous use as an office for homecare workers already generated a large number of car movements whereas a bar and restaurant would be less likely to attract drivers. CDN also put forward the case that the Supplementary Planning Guidance used to identify the boundary of the local centre was dated and did not reflect the significant changes that have occurred in Uplands over recent years especially in relation to its booming nighttime food and drink economy.

Following the appeal and subsequent approval Bar St James has been designed and developed to a very high standard and the improvements both internally and externally have restored this heritage building sensitively and tastefully.

See www.saintj.co.uk for more information.