A £1.4million investment in Cardigan’s waterfront was given the go-ahead by council planners despite local concerns about noise.

A former warehouse on Cambrian Quay will be redeveloped to house an entertainment area and enterprise zones, with a bunkhouse and spa room, by eco-tourism company Fforest.

Its latest venture at Lloyds Wharf, next door to its popular Pizzatipi, was approved by Ceredigion County Council’s development control at its meeting on Wednesday (March 13).

It would extend the undercover entertainment space of the venue.

A number of objections to the plan were made, including from Cardigan Town Council, with 26 letters raising concerns about noise – both existing problems and a potential increase – the need for more hostel and enterprise space in the town, traffic and parking, footpath access and ecology.

Fforest owner James Lynch said that the redevelopment would create 30 jobs and 20 employment spaces by 2020, with £1.4million to be invested in the project.

“There will be additional turnover of about £1million and all of that – services, supplies and direct employment – all goes back into the local economy.

“The important thing is the emphasis on young people, they’re the backbone of our business really and keeping people in the area is really important.”

The installation of a noise limiter was proposed following an impact assessment by the applicant and other steps will be taken to limit disruption to neighbours.

Mr Lynch told the committee that the company had worked with the council “in order to address all these issues”, adding that the standards used in its assessments met those used by the World Health Organisation.

“The threshold we are working on is zero disturbance of neighbours,” he said. “There were some other objections but the substantial one is the noise and we can do everything we can to mitigate that.”

There was a long-term “vision” to regenerate the river area to create a “destination area” in Cardigan working in partnership with existing facilities and attractions, the committee heard.

Local member Cllr Catrin Miles said that previous conditions had been “ignored” by the applicant and there was a lack of communication between the planning department and licensing department to ensure enforcement.

“Any development on Cambrian Quay has an affect on the quay which is a public area under the ownership of this authority, it’s an area where alcohol is not allowed and families can enjoy the river.

“Often, especially on the weekend, people flood out on to the quay with their drinks and bottles,” she said, adding that car parking was affecting the surface of the quay.

Cllr Miles said she had received calls about noise in the early hours and from people in St Dogmaels, not just the town itself.

Jane Roche, on behalf of the Teifi Community Group, said there were issues with disturbance and asked the committee to refuse the plan on “the grounds of the noise pollution that it has been causing and will continue to do so.”

There was support for the proposal from other councillors, including Cllr Peter Davies who said: “We need jobs and to keep young people in the area and this is what this is going to do.

“There’s nothing similar to it in Cardigan. The impression I had of the site was it needed investment, we need to improve this corner of the town.”

A proposal for a site visit failed and councillors voted to approve the plan.

Following the decision Cllr Miles added: “I was encouraged that there was an opportunity in the development control committee to raise many enforcement issues that concern me, as the local member, on the Cambrian Quay development.

“I also welcome the fact that there will be a stringent set of planning conditions attached to the approved application and look forward to working with the relevant departments to ensure ‘zero disturbance’ of residents in the future.”