‘It will be of wider benefit to the life of the High Street to see this empty shop unit reinhabited and brought back into beneficial use’
75 High Street in Barry(Image: Google Street View)
A new cafe could soon be coming to a prominent street in a Welsh seaside town. Plans have been presented to Vale of Glamorgan Council to bring a defunct dog grooming parlour in Barry back into active use.
The application, lodged by JJ&F Ltd, calls High Street a “busy retail area” and said a new cafe will “fit comfortably into this context”.
According to planning documents the site, 75 High Street, has been empty since February 2026. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter
Despite “vigorous marketing” by agents there was no interest in continuing to use the property for retail.
However the property received “several approaches from parties” who have expressed a “keen interest” in turning the property into a cafe, which the applicant says “must be beneficial for the high street as a whole”.
Planning documents state: “It will be of wider benefit to the life of the High Street to see this empty shop unit reinhabited and brought back into beneficial use.”
The change to a cafe will only affect the ground floor and the basement of the building and the residential accommodation above the business will remain untouched by the proposal.
The application reads: “The current premises are fully operational, ready for occupation. Services already exist within the building for heating, supply of electricity and water, and including connections to the mains drainage system for the disposal of foul and surface water.”
Welsh Water did not object or support the plans but did advise that “the approved use should investigate an adequate grease trap to be fitted, in accordance with environmental health regulations, and maintained thereafter so as to prevent grease entering the public sewerage system”.
A target decision date by Vale of Glamorgan Council has been given as October 13.
