AN Aberystwyth hotelier is entitled to use flats as holiday lets in a renovated former county court building, Ceredigion Council has confirmed.
Edleston House in Queen’s Road was left empty when the county court moved to the new justice centre at Aberystwyth Marina in 2013.
Emyr Davies agreed the purchase of the building for £300,000 from the council and carried out renovation work to create five flats.
While initial plans had said the flats would be put up for sale, Mr Davies has now opted to use them for holiday lets.
A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson has said that the flats can be used as holiday lets under the current planning system, but said the council would need to know whether it would levy business rates on the flats or council tax.
They said: “The Local Planning Authority was not aware that the developer was letting the flats as holiday lets, nevertheless the means of letting out the flats are a matter for the owner.
“No planning permission is required to utilise the flats as holiday accommodation.
“Planning permission would be needed for change of use, say from offices to flats. However, in this instance there would not be any change of use as they are still flats irrespective of whether they are let out for holiday purposes.
“As far as rates or council tax is concerned, these will be dealt with appropriately under the relevant legislation at the appropriate time.”
Figures included as part of the planning application said Mr Davies was planning to spend £869,389 on buying the building and carrying out the renovation work, with estimates that the flats could be sold for around £870,000, leaving a very small profit margin, before the decision was made by Mr Davies to instead market the flats for holiday accommodation.
See the story in this week’s south editions
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