Green light for new apartments above city centre fish and chip shop

Places to create five apartments above a fish and chip shop in Wrexham city centre have been given the green light.

An application was submitted last month to convert the upper floors of a building on Egerton Street which is home to Wrexham Fish Bar at ground level.

The parts of the property earmarked for development were previously used as a gun shop and offices.

It will result in five self-contained apartments being created, including one flat with two bedrooms and four with one bedroom each.

The scheme has now been approved by planning officials from Wrexham Council after a decision notice was published on the local authority’s website.

Architects acting on behalf of applicant Demetris Demetriou said it would help to bring empty parts of the building back into use.

In a design and access statement accompanying the proposals, they said: “The proposed site is situated within a mixed-use area in Wrexham town centre. The area of the building to be redeveloped is currently empty.

“The ground floor is a thriving chip shop with attached cafe with the top two floors formerly a gun shop and office block. The top floor has been vacant since 2014.

“The change of use involves developing the upper two floors into apartments. Numerous shops, restaurants, public spaces and schools are within close walking distance and amenities to suit already exist or are being developed.

“The proposed development positively utilises a vacant space within an already established area, making use of a derelict building within the newly granted city.”

There are no parking spaces allocated to the property, but the architects said the building was within “a very sustainable location” close to public transport links.

Permission was granted by the council subject to the development being carried out within the next five years

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter