King Street apartment plans given go ahead despite concern about amenity space for residents

Plans to convert office space above town centre retail space into apartments have been approval – despite concerns about the lack of outdoor amenity space for future residents.

The proposals to partially convert office space into five self-contained apartments at 63 King Street received backing from a majority of councillors.

As part of the plans the ground floor of the building would be partially converted into accommodation, with a one bedroom property situated at the rear of the property. A single self-contained office would remain at the front of the building while four one bedroom apartments would also be created on the first and second floors.

The application also consists of a two storey extension at the rear of the property to “facilitate additional floor space”.

Outlining the proposals at yesterday’s meeting, Planning Control Officer David Williams explained that within town centre living it is “not uncommon to have residential usages without external space” and that a yard at the rear of the property would be used as a drying area, bins and for storage.

It was also explained that converting empty space above town centre offices and shops is “in line with Wrexham Council policies to increase residential occupancy in town and increase footfall beyond normal business hours”.

However Cllr Marc Jones, who represents the Grosvenor ward, argued that the plans should be refused due to the lack of amenity space that would be available to those living there.

Cllr Jones said: “I am supportive of town centre living generally, but I feel it has to be correct and that we get this right. If we get it wrong we are storing up problems for the future.

“There one car parking parking space that will be left, there are two at the moment and the one left will be for retail. Which means the five flats will have no car parking space.

“If we are serious about people having town centre living as an aspiration and something to aspire to, then a lot of those people will be in work and inevitably that work will take them out of the town centre.

“Unfortunately our bus station is dealing with 20 per cent fewer bus journeys than it was two or three years ago. Our public transport service is not fit for purpose, inevitably that means people for good or bad have to rely on cars.

“I have a concern that if we are talking about town centre living we have to ensure that town centre living works for people in work and not reliant on inadequate public transport network.

“I am also concerned that if people do have cars, they will inevitably end up using other office space in that row which will cause problems for other businesses in that row. Or residential streets in Rhosddu which are already under pressure from existing parking problems.”

Reference was also made to the lack of amenity space for bins, storage for bikes and clothes at the yard at the rear of the property, with Cllr Jones adding: “I don’t think it is sufficient. On that basis and reluctantly as I do want to see town centre living, I am asking for a rejection on grounds of lack of amenity space.”

The recommendation for refusal was seconded by another member of the committee.

Mr Williams pointed out that Wrexham Council do not have a policy which requires having amenity space available for such units in the town centre and that if a similar approach is taken for all town centre application, it could result in empty units above shops and offices in the town centre.

He added: “This is not a new development, this is a change of use of an existing building. The only way it is going to get occupancy is through allowing some degree of flexibility and accepting that certain individuals don’t need that space and that it is a choice.

“The basis of parking and the approach taken by Welsh Government is about demand management. There will be numerous examples in Wrexham where it can’t satisfy the parking requirement as it is an existing building in a densely built up area within the town centre.

“It’s a process about influencing choice and individual choice and attracting people to town who don’t need a car. If you are reliant on a vehicle and work in a different town, the chance are you are not interested in purchasing of living in a flat of a one bedroom apartment in Wrexham.

“We have to be careful with the decision. We don’t want a situation where we sterilise all of the upper floors in Wrexham town centre purely because there is insufficient amenity space and lack of parking.”

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Mike Morris, also made reference to potential plans councillors may have to consider with regards to Henblas Street, which would also have a lack of amenity space.

A vote to refuse the plans was voted down by committee members, with seven councillors alter voting in favour of approving the plans, with five voting against.