Llandudno’s £20m Pier Pavilion faces call-in 

Plans to create 52 apartments and 20,000 sq ft of restaurants in the North Wales town could be subject to a review by the Welsh Government amid ongoing opposition to the proposals. 

Conwy Council has received a holding direction from Welsh ministers after a request was made to call in developer Alan Waldron’s approved application. 

The holding direction enables the Government to give further consideration to the proposals before deciding whether or not to call in the application. 

Waldron’s plans to create a 10-storey mixed-use block at the seafront site off Happy Valley Road were first approved in 2018.  

The site, between the Grand Hotel and Leisure Island Amusements, has been empty for 23 years after the old pavilion was destroyed by a fire. 

Waldron’s scheme is to include car parking on the lower three levels, followed by a level of restaurants, with the apartments on the upper six levels.  

Following the 2018 approval, last month Conwy Council also granted consent for various tweaks to the application.  

The amended application sought permission for four additional apartments, taking the total from 48 to 52, as well as changing the access to and layout of the building. 

However, a start on site has now been delayed while the Welsh Government takes a closer look at the controversial plan. 

Leading the opposition to the mixed-use scheme is Adam Williams, owner of the adjacent Llandudno Pier. 

Williams said Waldron’s project could put the pier at “very serious risk”, while also questioning whether the restaurant element could be delivered due to “restrictive covenants” on the site. 

“Why should the entire identity of Llandudno’s heart be lost for the sake of a one-off residential block?” Williams said.

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Llandudno is nice but there’s nothing to do there, no nice restaurants or bars

By GH

There is plenty to do in Llandudno and there are lots of very good restaurants, i go regular and find something new every time , but I’m not sure about building flats around Happy Valley, I think it would spoil the view

By Lynne Burgess

It is nice to have something done with that bit of land but I don’t think it should be a big building as it will look an eye sore and ruin the sea side town image

By Jayne

An eyesore that should have been sorted year’s ago.

By Alan Jones

Surely it would be a lot better than what you see now. Competition is Good.

By Bernard

Good its about time they did something with the eyesore. Maybe not so high

By Annette O'Mullane

Mr Williams is right, you don’t know the load-bearing consequences of such a project would be, as a local I’d rather keep the pier. Another residential block? I don’t think so.

By Anonymous

As a local I oppose this project. What is the definition of multi use ? We have enough lovely restaurants and hotels, b&b’s etc which have not had full capacity in them since 2020 due to the pandemic. More needs to be disclosed on who their target market are for these. Conwy Council need to approve affordable local housing for local people, and should not have approved this vanity project. We should be encouraging companies from Wales to invest here.

By Anna Thomas

The Pavilion is an eyesore so whether it’s residential or retail space, so long as it is in keeping with the architecture of the Town, then it should go ahead. The redevelopment of the old Tudno Castle Hotel demonstrates that this can be done.

By Ray Lever

If the grand hotel was to be knocked down too, as it needs to be, there would be an even bigger space for improvement, more underground parking and a better hotel with a great restaurant. It would be good for the town.

By K B h

I think it shouldn’t be allowed as the view will be spoilt amongst many other things. There are many bars, restaurants and things to do in Llandudno all close by. It’s a Victorian town and should be kept this way. Not ruined with new builds. If anything it should be replaced by similar structures. The pier is an asset and history maintained. Please don’t agree to this development. I have holidayed in Llandudno for over 30 years. I have many memories to make please don’t ruin it.

By LW

A joint effort by Waldron and Williams to find a compromise would help both locals and tourist alleviate the worries and concerns and its surrounding areas

By M J Higgins

It would be a blot on the landscape plus would spoil the views as the beach is a shambles as well so why let a large building spoil a lovely view too. We always visit Llandudno & find many places to eat so no more restaurants or apartments please. Don’t spoil the prior.

By Mr&Mrs P White

Llandudno has a unique ambience and is historically important as a very early seaside town. We are not local but visit it often, especially with friends from here and abroad. All of them love it for its quintessential feel of a Victorian seaside resort. The pier is fabulous. Nothing should be done that would put any of this at risk. If folk want fashionable restaurants then go somewhere else but if they looked, they’d know there are some wonderful, small gems. As for saying there’s nothing there, well maybe not if you don’t want sea, sand, beautiful countryside, the oldest existing copper mine, a tramline, wonderful walks, esplanade, exquisite views, in which case Llandudno isn’t for you. Any redevelopment should vbe very carefully thought through. Once anything is lost it will be lost forever.

By Anonymous

Something should be built that goes in line with the Pier and the Grand not Flats and Restaurants which would be out of line with The Victorian Pier and Promenade .

By Patricia Thomas

A low level building for the benefit of the community i.e.for example an ice rink which would also enhance the facilities on the pier one of Llandudno greatest assets.

By M Pearce

I don’t think they should get rid of the pier, it’s part of the traditional seaside town. If they want to build flats on empty ground fair enough but they should leave the town’s historical parts alone. Visiting this summer so I’ll be having a look visited when I was a child so looking forward to seeing the pier and town again.

By Julie

It would be nice if the building was sensitivity reconstructed into a dancing hall once more. Strictly Come Dancing could host there & it would offer so much leisure facilities to the locals too.

By Clare Hadzik

This is definitely not my taste, Llandudno has a very Victorian feel about it, quiet, tranquil, relaxing. We’ve stayed in several of the hotels over the last 25yrs, at least once a year sometimes as many as 3 times a year. I agree with development of the site but a reasonable size and not a blot on the landscape.

By Stuart Borrill

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