Former adult shop apartment plans given the go ahead – Councillor warns of more bins on Yorke Street

An application to convert disused space above a former adult shop into apartments has been given the go ahead.

Members of Wrexham Council’s planning committee yesterday backed plans to turn the first and second floors of the ‘The Private Shop’ on Yorke street into four apartments.

The current available retail space on the ground floor of the building will be retained as part of the plans – with two apartments based on both the first and second floors.

It was the third time residential plans for the building had been submitted.

Speaking yesterday planning officer Matthew Phillips told the committee that the new application was a “significant reduction in intensity of usage”. It was also noted that the proposed alterations to the building are “more sympathetic to the appearance of the building and its location within the town conservation area”.

However Smithfield councillor Adrienne Jeorrett said that while she welcomed the revised plans, she still had concerns about parking and bin provision on Yorke Street. Yorke Street has at times a distinct bin odour in very hot weather, with a large and apparently growing collection of bins towards the top left of the road, that on occasion block the pavement.

Cllr Jeorrett said: “I’m still concerned about car parking and I know that’s something the council and I disagree on at the moment.

“The more town centre developments where there isn’t car parking there, then it’s going to spill out into the town centre wards.

“I know with the regulations it doesn’t come into it, but I need to tell you I am concerned about that.

She added: “With condition six – further information about the bin storage area please, because I would hate to think of there being another bin on Yorke Street.

“The bins that are currently on Yorke Street and with it being in a conservation area are an absolute disgrace.”

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Michael Morris, noted that there is a bin storage area at the rear of the property.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of approving the plans.