Plans to convert a former chapel vestry into two one-bedroom flats in Newcastle Emlyn have been refused.

The plans were submitted by Dewi and Dyfrig Davies for the School House on Church Lane in Newcastle Emlyn.

They were hoping to convert the Grade II property into two residential flats which would each have one bedroom. The works would have involved alterations to the inside of the building but none to the external part of the building.

The building is next to the Presbyterian Chapel which has already been turned into residential accommodation.

On September 8, Carmarthenshire County Council refused listed building consent for the plans, stating that the proposed development would ‘adversely affect the special architectural interest of the listed building and the detrimental impact is not justified by the information submitted as part of the heritage impact assessment.’

The refusal references SP13 of the Local Development Plan of the Built and Historic Environment, which states that proposals should preserve or enhance the built and historic environment of the county, its cultural, townscape and landscape assets and where appropriate, their setting.

Another refusal reason was that the proposed development does not ‘represent high quality design that would reinforce local character and would not respect or enhance the Grade II listed building.’