Plans to convert a listed building in St James's Square, Monmouth, into housing were put before county planners yesterday (Tuesday 3rd December).

Members of Monmouthshire County Council's planning committee were recommended to approve the proposal by officers but deferred their decision pending comments from highways officers.

If approved, the plans will see the Grade II listed St James's House, until recently a boarding house for Monmouth School, coverted into a five-bedroom home.

The building's two existing extensions and fire escape would be demolished to make way for a new two-storey extension.

No 11 St James's Square, currently incorporated into the school building, would be separated internally to create a new two-bedroom house.

No 12 St James's Square would be turned into a five-bedroom home and a redundant outbuilding behind the property would become a two-bedroom house.

The plans also include the construction of a new building within the curtilage of St James's House, to the north east of the site.

A total of nine parking spaces are outlined in the proposals, causing concern for neighbours as there is already parking for Clarke Printing and Monmouth Dental Practice at the site.

Other objections include the close proximity of the new building to numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11 The Burgage, the congestion the development would add to the area and issues relating to land ownership and access.

In response to third party objections, the report put before the planning committee says the land ownership and right of access dispute is a civil matter, and that the existing access point could accommodate the additional properties.

"The site lies in a central location within Monmouth town where properties are in close proximity to one another and it is not considered that this new dwelling would have an unacceptable impact on neighbouring properties," says the report.

Monmouth Town Council recommended refusal of the application to "protect the historical character of the building within a conservation area".

Monmouth Archaeological Society objected to the application as there was "insufficient consideration to the archaeological potential of the site".

At yesterday's meeting, Councillor David Dovey said: "I feel the entrance between number 16 and 18 has significent problems with it.

"We haven't had the report from highways yet. The proposal should be taken forward with alternative access in mind.

"I recommend deferral."