PLANS TO convert a former chapel building in Conwy into a holiday home complex have been withdrawn, following concerns about the project.

The Grade II listed Capel Carmel building, a former Welsh Presbyterian Church, and the adjacent schoolhouse, on Chapel Street, would have become residential holiday properties.

The proposal would have seen an area of the site surrounding the buildings demolished, with sections of the buildings converted into gaming, bar, lounge and terrace deck areas, among other uses.

But the plans were met with concern by residents, with one saying the building's conversion into an AirBnb-type holiday home was "dangerous" for traffic, the local economy and housing.

In a letter to the council, resident Fu Lian Doble said: “Firstly, I am a long-term resident of Conwy, living just a few doors down from the chapel.

“Parking is already constantly a massive problem - the road is already incredibly tight, and residents find it hard to find parking for all their vehicles.

“Furthermore, if this plan was to be seen through, this is dangerous as ambulances and emergency vehicles would not be able to get up.

“As you will see from the planning application details, the people making these plans lack the lived experience that the residents on the street have in terms of parking – after all being based in Essex."

The company behind the plans, Essex-based VJC Holiday Properties Ltd, have now withdrawn the plans.

The vacant building dates back to the late 19th century, and the schoolhouse, which was a Sunday school for the chapel, is listed in its own right.

Made up of a classical façade typical of the time in which it was built, the chapel includes a three-bay frontage and a Romanesque arched entrance, with planning documents noting the “grandeur and impact” it gives this area of the town.