Community hub conversion at Abertillery Workmens Welfare Institute, Abertillery
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Blaenau Gwent Planning Committee on 9 Sept 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed changing a vacant welfare club into a community hub, with a new entrance, access works, enclosures, balcony, lighting and cladding.
“This application seeks planning permission for the change of use of the Abertillery Miners Welfare Club to the Abertillery Stute (Community Hub), involving the relocation of main entrance from Powell Street to Division Street through a new extension, inclusive of the provision of a ramp and stepped access to a single storey flat roof extension, an enclosure to the existing fire exit, and associated enclosure to house new air handling units, bin and bike store, a balcony on…”
“The existing building is currently vacant and has been for a number of years (since approximately 2010). The building was originally used as a Workmens Welfare Club. The applicant has stated the most recent use was for wellbeing activities and a library. It is proposed to change the use of the building to Abertillery Stute, which will be a community hub/centre.”
Officer report
The site and building
The site is a corner plot in the town centre, outside the primary retail area, containing a split-level detached commercial building beside homes and public highways.
“The site is located within the Abertillery Town Centre boundary but outside the Primary Retail Area. The site is a corner plot, with the public highway of Powell Street to the east, Division Street to the south, Tillery Street to the West, and residential dwellings to the north.”
“The site comprises of a split level detached commercial building that is two storeys to the existing front/eastern elevation and four storeys to the rear/western elevation.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
Highways, environmental health, landscape and ecology officers raised no objection, while Welsh Water requested conditions and the land covenant was noted.
“Environmental Health: No objection subject to unforeseen land contamination condition.”
“Welsh Water: No objection subject to conditions/informatives.”
Officer report
Residents’ views
The council received no responses after site notices, website publication, ward-member notification and direct notification to 18 neighbouring properties.
“2no site notices displayed at the site • Website public register of applications • Ward members by letter • All members via weekly list of applications received • Direct neighbour notification to 18 neighbouring properties.”
“No responses have been received. Planning Policy 4.1”
Officer report
Committee decision
The committee granted planning permission subject to the report’s conditions, and one councillor did not take part in discussion or voting.
“RESOLVED that Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions detailed in the report.”
“Councillor J. Holt did not take part in the discussion or vote.”
Minutes
Sources
- Blaenau Gwent Planning Committee minutes, 9 September 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Blaenau Gwent's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
Committee decisions and nationwide planning applications, in one API
The Plota API returns planning applications from every council we cover, each with its decision, whether a committee or officers decided it, and the committee date. Build it into your own tools.
See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Blaenau Gwent Planning Committee
- Council
- Blaenau Gwent
- Date
- Wednesday 9 September 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Blaenau Gwent committee decisions →
This committee's year
9 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.