An application to convert a Grade II listed Machynlleth building into a 36-bed hostel has been submitted to Powys County Council.

One of the oldest buildings in Machynlleth, the former stables and coach house of Y Plas is set to become a hostel as plans to convert the building were submitted to Powys County Council. 

The application outlines the project to turn the 19th century building that now sits alongside the A487 trunk road by repairing, or retaining where possible, the existing roof, walls, windows, and doors, laying a new ground floor and dividing the building’s internal spaces to create a new layout.

The project was commissioned by Machynlleth Town Council commissioned, led by Machynlleth Hen Stablau Ltd Community Interest Company in consultation with George + Tomos Architects.

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The application’s heritage impact assessment says: “The objective of this project is to undertake the phased consolidation and repair the building envelope, prior to undertaking a development phase of works to refurbish and remodel the Former Coach House and Stables to provide hostel accommodation for the benefit of the town, for visitors, tourism and Community use.

“The ambition of this project is to repair, to revitalise and to adaptively re-use the Former Coach House, Stables and Kennels at Plas Machynlleth to create a 36-bed Hostel of short-term bookable accommodation with supporting communal and catering spaces.

“The ethos of the brief is to ensure that the new use ‘fits the existing building’ as far as this is practicable and that the accommodation is configured flexibly so that entire bedroom units can be let on a family, group, or individual basis, including barrier free, accessible facilities for people with physical disabilities, or for people who might require additional support to inclusively accommodate their specific needs.

“The development is also aligning itself as a community-led sustainable tourism business opportunity that will be of benefit to the town and to a network of businesses regionally.

“The scope of works and the delivery of the project will be phased, both to address the most urgent of repair priorities to the building fabric but also to accommodate the specific requirements, conditions, and outcomes of funders and other agencies during the delivery of the capital works.”

Commenting on the application, Built Heritage Officer Sam Johnson said: “The scheme will improve the communal value of the building, bringing it into public use.

“Aesthetic improvement will be made in terms of the condition and repair, but also removal of inappropriate later works.

“Evidential details as to the historic use will be retained, and conditions have been designed especially to ensure it. Historic value will be enhanced by the repair of the building and the sensitive approach.”