PLANS have been submitted to turn a former Llandrindod Wells nightclub into a new base for a foodbank.

Martin Nosworthy of Llandrindod Wells Food Bank has applied for planning permission to change the use of The Venue, which  is connected to the rear of the Commodore Hotel, and where the hotel swimming pool once was.

The hotel is a Grade II listed building.

The applicant wants to refurbish the inside of the building.

In a planning statement, agent Nick Burnside of Hughes Architects, explained  that Llandrindod Food Bank had seen their services “grow considerably” to such an extent that they need a bigger building,

Mr Burnside, said: “The main alterations required to the building, are to improve access and to increase natural light levels within the building.

“This building provides much larger spaces, so that the on-site storage capacity can be greatly increased, to allow the foodbank to help more people.

“The open plan nature of the building allows flexibility of use so that

other services can be provided.”

Mr Burnside says that the the Hotel has already agreed that the foodbank can also use the hotel entrance for deliveries

Mr Bunside said: “The site is within the town centre of Llandrindod Wells, close to complementary public health amenities and accessible to potential users.

public transport connections are a short walk from the site.

“The building is structurally sound, and only requires some repairs to the roof,  none of these works require permission so are not part of

the application.”

He added that the changes would also “improve the setting” of both a listed building and the town centre and brings a “redundant building” back into use.

Llandrindod Wells Foodbank which was set by funding from the Trussell Trust in 2013, and is based at Crescent Chambers in the town.

They also had bases at Rhayader and Builth Wells, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the current lockdown in Wales, are running a delivery only service.

People are referred to the foodbank by over 40 agencies.

Between March and May, 2020 the saw a  200 per cent increase in use.