PLANS to change a garden centre in Tycroes into residential accommodation have been approved by the council, as the business is set to go on the market.

The plans were submitted by Deborah Davison for Petals Garden Centre on Pontarddulais Road, Tycroes.

It was requested that the garden centre’s ground floor have a change of use from ground floor retail space to residential accommodation, which will be a single dwelling unit that is linked with the existing residential floors above it.

There would also be alterations to the existing residential floors above.

It is a three-storey building with two floors of residential units which the application stated is where the applicant lives and the plans are to create a larger family home which will see the applicant’s family move in, opening up another property in the village as well as reducing traffic around the nearby school.

Mrs Davison told the South Wales Guardian that although she has put the planning through and it has been accepted, she will not be actioning it as the property will be put up for sale through Calow Evans estate agents shortly.

"The new owners would be able to choose for themselves if they would like to keep it as it is and run a business from the downstairs, or if they would like to convert it into a three-storey family home," said Mrs Davison.

On October 3, Carmarthenshire County Council approved the plans with eight conditions including the usual two of work starting within five years of the approval date and in line with the approved plans.

There are conditions relating to the access, parking and vehicular turning areas and gates. Work cannot start until a scheme to deal with risks associated with contamination of the site has bene submitted to and agreed by the local planning authority and schemes for planting are submitted.