Retrospective plans to change a Pembrokeshire car sales/valet area to include a barber shop and tanning salon have been submitted to the County Council.
Zizo Barbers & Affordable Cars, of Cambrian Place, Haverfordwest are seeking permission for the change of use of previously granted valet and car sales area, the works completed in 2024.
A supporting statement through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said the former commercial garage business has been operating in several guises from the premises for many years and has included petrol sales, motor servicing and repairs, MoTs, vehicle valeting, car sales and customer parking.
This followed on from a 2011 permission for the partial demolition of the original commercial garage, with a later approval for the site refurbishment to provide a workshop, valeting and offices for the existing car sales, allowing a maximum of 20 cars.
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A later application restricting that to seven cars; leading to the applicant being informed in 2024 by a planning enforcement there was a breach of that condition.
The statement says: “With the current proposal to replace the commercial valeting with a barber shop and tanning salon and limiting any washing and valeting of vehicles to those cars for sale, and with a former consent allowing the display of up to 20 vehicles, it is considered that the limit of seven vehicles is unreasonably restrictive for this town centre site.”
It adds: “The proposed update to a change of use involves the replacement of a car valeting service, which took place under a covered area at the rear of the site by a wash and valet operation – and restricting this service to those cars being sold at the Cambrian Place site. The use of a former office / store as a barber shop. The use of the former customer waiting area as a tanning salon including a new moveable timber shed for use as a meet and greet facility and as a car sales office. Provision of a communal parking area. Whilst retaining the principal use of the site for the sale of used cars.
“It is therefore suggested that the proposal will reduce both the elements of noise and the generation of dust whilst improving air quality as substantially fewer cars being power washed and valeted as well as the visual impact of these activities in this very public location – and with adjacent residential properties.”