The owner, identified in Torfaen council papers as K Lewis, had previously operated a beauty business for more than 12 years at another site but had relocated it to their home
19:31, 02 Jan 2026Updated 19:32, 02 Jan 2026
The garage at this home at Heol Ewen, Cwmbran was converted to a beauty room without planning permission
A beautician converted their home garage into commercial premises without planning permission. The homeowner has now been granted retrospective approval to run the appointment-only beauty business four days a week from the garage at the side of their new build in Pontrhydyrun, Cwmbran.
The owner, identified in Torfaen council papers as K Lewis, had previously operated a beauty business for more than 12 years at another site but had relocated it to their home in Heol Ewen due to “changing personal and financial circumstances”, according to their retrospective application.
The garage was converted in March 2024 with adaptations including a timber stud partition between the beauty room and the front of the garage, which is still used for storage. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter.
A small wash-hand basin has been installed and connected to the existing drainage and water supply.
There are no employees and appointments are “managed strictly by pre-booking only, with no walk-in clients permitted”, according to the application.
There is a minimum of 30 minutes between appointments and Lewis’ suggested opening hours of 10am to 2pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 12pm to 7pm on Tuesdays, have been included as a condition of the planning permission.
The condition also states only one client is permitted to visit the beauty salon at any one time
According to the application, only two clients will typically visit per day though in busy periods it can be up to three.
The application states the house has five off-street parking spaces on the driveway and that the appointment system avoids congestion or clients waiting on the street.
Approving the application, Torfaen planning officer Mia McAndrew noted the conversion of the garage had resulted in the loss of one parking space but that four cars could be “suitably accommodated on the drive”. She also took into account that there is a regular bus service.
Ms McAndrew said the use as a beauty room was acceptable and would not “have a detrimental impact on parking and highway safety”.