Llandudno Junction's St Katherine's Church Faces Demolition for Affordable Home

Key facts

• St Katherine's Church in Llandudno Junction has been vacant since at least 2017.
• Applicant Roy Botfield of Colwyn Bay has lodged demolition and redevelopment plans.
• The proposal includes a house, detached garage, vehicle access, and a treatment plant.
• Conwy Council's consultation states the development should be for affordable housing for local need.
• The council's SPP raises significant concerns about scale and principle.
• Plans must include a GI statement, SuDS design, and net biodiversity gain.
• Tree loss should be minimized, and native hedging preferred over timber fencing.

Church Vacancy and Demolition Plans

A vacant former church building in Llandudno Junction has been earmarked for demolition. St Katherine's Church, on Bryn Pydew Road, could be demolished under new plans lodged by Colwyn Bay-based applicant Roy Botfield. The village church, which was a Church in Wales site, has been vacant for some time, and remained in use until at least 2017. The vacant St Katherine's Church is shown in planning documents.

Proposed Redevelopment and Housing

If the proposal is approved, the church would make way for a house, with new vehicle access and detached garage, treatment plant and associated landscaping works. A consultation by Conwy Council said the proposal "should be for affordable housing for local need". The council said of the plans: "If the case officer is minded to support the development it should be for affordable housing for local need which has previously been stated in pre-app enquiry."

Council Concerns and Conditions

The council's SPP raise significant concerns regarding the proposal in terms of scale and principle. All proposals should be supported with a GI statement proportional to the scale of the development. SuDS should be designed in from concept stage offering GI enhancement, links to local routes, and a net benefit for biodiversity. Open water features such as balance ponds, rain water ponds and rain gardens would be supported.

Biodiversity and Landscaping Requirements

Biodiversity and green infrastructure features should be retained and enhanced. Tree loss should be minimized and new planting should be maximised where appropriate. Native species of hedging should be used as boundary treatment rather than timber fencing. Loss of hedging should be replaced within the site and used instead of fencing. These conditions aim to ensure the development contributes positively to the local environment.

Finding Alice Reopens in Llandudno Town Centre

Meanwhile, in Llandudno itself, the Finding Alice attraction is set to reopen after a year-long redevelopment. The attraction will welcome back visitors this Saturday, timed with the Extravaganza and Bank Holiday weekend. This marks a new chapter for the experience, which has been reshaped based on lessons from previous runs. The organisers say the new format aims to be "smoother, more flexible, and designed to work more seamlessly for both locals and visitors."

Experience-Led Model for Town Centres

Finding Alice is not just a business venture but also seen as a potential model for the future of town centres. Amidst a backdrop of increasing vacant shop fronts, reduced footfall, and the growing dominance of online and out-of-town shopping alternatives, town centres are being encouraged to rethink their role. The developers of Finding Alice say they believe that experience-led thinking could play a role in the future of the high street. They hope the revamped experience will attract both locals and visitors, contributing to the vibrancy of Llandudno's town centre.

The bottom line

• St Katherine's Church in Llandudno Junction has been vacant since at least 2017 and is proposed for demolition to make way for a house.
• Applicant Roy Botfield's plan includes a house, garage, vehicle access, and landscaping, subject to council conditions.
• Conwy Council insists the development should be affordable housing for local need, despite SPP concerns over scale and principle.
• The council requires biodiversity net gain, SuDS features, native hedging, and minimal tree loss.
• Finding Alice in Llandudno reopens after a year-long redevelopment, aiming to boost town centre vibrancy.
• The attraction is positioned as a potential model for experience-led high street regeneration.