PLANNERS have approved a bid to turn a former Michelin star restaurant and hotel into a house after its owners were able to prove that the business is no longer viable.

Gwynedd Council’s planning department had received the planning application from the owners of Plas Bodegroes, a Grade II listed building which was put on the market in 2015 with an asking price of £1.5m.

But after failing to find a buyer, owners Chris and Gunna Chown applied to Gwynedd Council’s planning committee to turn it into an eight bedroom home.

This week, planners gave the proposals the green light after being satisfied that all efforts had been made to try and sell the business, with two attempts having been made over the past decade.

The planning officers’ summing-up, notes that allowing the application would secure the future of the Grade II listed building.

“Despite dropping the price of a room, there is not the same demand as there was five years ago,” notes the report.

“It is clear from the information presented that efforts have been made to advertise the business over three years and to keep the business operating via several methods.

“It’s considered that the information presented is sufficient to show that the building is not viable as a business.”

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