An empty Pwllheli nightclub could be demolished and replaced by houses under a plan submitted to Gwynedd Council.

Venu, a nightclub, bar and restaurant at Pwllheli’s quay, closed suddenly in September 2018 and has been empty since.

But local developer James Lloyd Developers wants to demolish Venu to build eight two-storey terraced houses on the site.

Agents Dobson Owen have said that the development should get the backing of planning officers as Venu’s struggles show that it is not viable to have a leisure use for the building and that a former shop sited there had also closed previously.

A report says: “The site has been used as a retail outlet in the past. It closed with no further retail use forthcoming.

“The current use is for leisure use and this has also been unsuccessful, and is now closed permanently, despite a high-quality facility being within the current building.

“Thus both retail and leisure use on this site have proven to be surplus to requirement and there is clear evidence that the current leisure use has ceased to be financially viable.

“No other suitable retail or leisure use can be established, or the site would have been used, so, despite genuine attempts to market the facility for these uses.”

The proposed houses would have parking to the rear and the housing development has been described as “in keeping with the traditional development forms of the town”.

The Dobson Owen report says: “The proposal is designed to replace the existing leisure outlet, as a result of its closure and failure to continue as a leisure or retail outlet.

“It is unlikely that any of the above uses will continue on the site.

“A small estate of new housing on the site is designed to be more in keeping with the traditional development forms of the town and it is hoped that the size and type of dwellings to be provided will be attractive to young families, which will serve to strengthen the community generally.”

As part of the plans, two of the houses would be affordable homes.

The plan is currently with Gwynedd Council’s planning department, being considered by planning officers.