Rents for Henblas Square ‘slashed’ by property developers aiming to ‘revive’ dormant shopping area

A ‘major sports retailer’ is set to be the flagship store of a vacant town shopping centre, with hopes of an influx of new retailers following a multi-million pound investment.

Last month Wrexham.com reported that work transforming the row of derelict and empty retail units and office space on Henblas Square into and “exciting new development” is underway.

The shopping centre, which first opened to great fanfare in 1999, has seen a series of high profile closures in recent years – starting in 2011 when TJ Hughes collapsed into administration.

Shops such as Bodycare, The Entertainer and the Post Office have all relocated elsewhere in the town – with other retailers such as Internacionale and Bhs entering into administration.

But property developers Mandale are investing more than £4m into buying and renovating the vacant shopping centre, having sold the 10,000 sq ft former BHS premises to an as yet-unnamed major sports retailer who are set to move in early 2019.

And they are sure of filling the neighbouring row of six empty stores which they are currently refitting and are available to let after cutting rents to between £10,000 and £15,000 per unit.

In November 2018 Wrexham.com reported that all but one member of Wrexham Council’s planning committee approved plans to convert the former office space above the shops into 55 apartments.

Mandale say the ‘high quality apartments’ have all been sold and will be finished by the end of February 2019, along with the revamped units.

Joe Darragh, Mandale estates director Joe Darragh, said the company see “no reason” why Henblas Square can’t reach the same heights as its heyday.

“We’re hoping to revive what is now a dormant area of Wrexham town centre and get people who live, shop and work in the area shopping there again, and I’m sure we will,” he said.

“Rents for shops at Henblas Square used to be astronomical, but we have slashed them and made them extremely competitive for Wrexham, and we’re hoping to talk to the local council to make business rates more affordable and breathe new life into the area.

“The units are ideal for town centre retailing and services such as clothes shops, chemists, a day nursery and creches, and are a good size.

“We’ve already received interest from carpet retailers, computer shops, newsagents, clothes shops, butchers and restaurants, and I think the units will be filled quickly.

“We’re fitting them out with new walls, ceilings and lighting ready for retailers to put their own touches to them, and we’re looking to do much more in Wrexham to further revitalise the town centre on the back of this.”