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Planning has been secured for a £12m ‘Gateway to ' hotel development.

Royal Oak Hotel applied to redevelop the Waterloo Hotel and the adjacent former petrol filling station and Little Chef site on the A5 in Betws-y-Coed.

Cadnant Planning was commissioned to undertake a pre-application consultation last year and in March the project was submitted to planners at the Snowdonia National Park Authority.

The plan included:

• Extension to front and southern elevations of existing hotel;
• Erection of mixed use building on the site of the former petrol filling station comprising of serviced accommodation, multi-purpose/conference room, retail (A1 use class) and café (A3 use class)
• Gateway feature on the east side of the A5 to include creation of a viewing platform towards the Waterloo Bridge;

• Change of use of lower land to the east of A5 for recreational purposes.

Now the planning committee has approved the scheme, allowing them to push on with the ambitious redevelopment.

History

A coaching inn has stood on the site since the 1800s and this was added to over the years - developing into a more prominent building by the latter part of the century.

This was demolished in 1975 and the existing Waterloo hotel erected. The the new plan was inspired by that original building.

The applicant's mother is Anna Davies, who opened her first shop selling Welsh wool, textiles and clothes from local makers and mills in 1956 and today the applicant’s sister, is responsible for the day to day running and development of the store.

Cadnant Planning said: "Ten years after opening the shop the applicant’s parents went on to buy the building next door, the Royal Oak Hotel, and the family have developed a passion for the hospitality industry ever since.