PLANS have been submitted to convert a redundant restaurant in Newquay town centre into apartments.

A developer proposes to turn the former Ye Olde Dolphin Restaurant in Fore Street into four self-contained flats, together with the conversion of the existing second floor flat to create three self-contained flats.

The proposed scheme also involves the removal of free-standing steel staircase to rear of the premises and construction of new communal stair enclosure to serve the proposed flats, together with ancillary improvement work.

The planning application states: “The property has a quite prominent position on Fore Street.

“Existing accommodation comprises a mixed use with the ground and semi basement floor levels being an Amusement Arcade Stardust, previously Playland operating as such since the late 1970’s.

“A separate entrance and stair provides access to the first floor which used to be a well-known and frequented local restaurant Ye Olde Dolphin Restaurant, up until the early 2010’s and although subsequent operators attempted to continue this use it didn’t replicate the former success and ceased trading in any form over eight years ago and remained vacant for a number of years.

“Most recently the upper floor had a temporary use as a hot desking centre Desk-Hop until several months ago when this stopped. The first floor is now vacant and un-used.

“The second floor can only be accessed via the first floor being a large self-contained flat, former owners’ private accommodation. This restrictive access to the first floor, and more-so to the second floor, as only via the first floor, of this property further limit its potential uses.

“Fore Street benefits from a natural transition as you move further away from the town centre having a variety of mixed uses with ground floor retail/commercial and residential flats above, particularly in this immediate vicinity where the pattern becomes of greater residential use. The property offers great potential for the upper floors to be converted into residential use.

“The applicant also owns Slots Amusements in East Street, for which planning consent was granted for the change of use of office and stores to first and second floor, to create three self-contained flats. The works are currently still in progress but are already improving the external appearance and the street-scene.

“It is with benefit of carrying out the scheme that prompted consideration for a similar approach to this property, especially as there had been previous planning approvals for the conversion of the upper floors to create self-contained flats and an enclosed access stair to the rear. Although planning had lapsed the principles were re-considered in the context of Slots and how a similar approach might be applied to this property.

“The application for the proposed change of use of the existing first and second floors with associated extensions and alterations to create seven self-contained flats provides an opportunity to repurpose underutilised redundant floor space and contributes to the supply of market. We therefore consider that this application satisfies these objections.”