PLANS to convert an Inveraray shop and café into two studio apartments have been rejected by council officers.

Management of the Inveraray Inn wanted to install the facilities at House 2 on Front Street, with the intention of using the apartments as tourist accommodation.

However, Argyll and Bute Council officials have refused planning permission amid concerns of loss of a retail premises in the town centre.

No representations from the public, expressing either objection or support, were received by the authority during the application process.

A planning officer said in a handling report: “The proposal looks to internally alter and change the use of the ground floor to provide two studio holiday letting apartments.

“Each unit would have an open plan living/kitchen/dining area with mini kitchen, bedroom area and a separate bathroom. The alterations would require the removal of all existing internal wall partitions on the ground floor.

“Whilst the proposed change of use does not affect the external frontage of the building, it would seek to introduce a form of residential development at ground floor level which is considered could adversely affect the vitality and viability of the wider centre.

“The change of use would cause a segregation of active retail frontages and result in an undesirable concentration of nonretail/restaurant/cafe uses, along Front Street.”

The officer added: “The principle of development whilst making use of an existing building and continuing to contribute to the local economy, would create a use that is more vulnerable to the existing use in an area of coastal flood risk and flood free access/ egress is not achievable.

“In addition to this, the proposal would lead to the loss of a retail premises within a town centre environment which could negatively affect the vitality of this town centre by segregating the active retail frontages along this street.

“Furthermore, the internal works associated with the change of use to accommodate the two tourist units would adversely affect the listed building. On this basis the development is not considered to be a sustainable form of development.

“The principle of development is inconsistent with the relevant policies of National Planning Framework 4 and the Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan and there are reasonable grounds to recommend refusal.”