Plans by Aberystwyth University to redevelop part of St Michael’s Church car park as part of the multi-million-pound Old College revamp have been recommended for approval by council planners despite concerns from the local councillor.

The plans to convert part of the church’s car park into 30 spaces to be used by the university is one of the conditions attached to the planning permission granted for the ambitious project, over fears of a lack of parking space around the Grade I listed building.

The plans were set to go before Ceredigion council’s development control committee on Wednesday.

A separate Listed Building Consent application for the plans was approved by council planners under delegated powers subject to conditions last week.

The major Old College project cannot go ahead without an agreement, so plans were put in place for the extra car parking capacity, planning documents outline.

The submitted scheme will see 30 spaces created for visitors to the building’s new hotel, along with new access and hard-standing.

Planning documents say that the development of the Old College would see “pressure on parking likely to be at a premium”.

The plans were referred to the committee by local member Endaf Edwards who warned that “parking and traffic congestion are very real problems in the area, and I am concerned that the development would contribute to both.”