Old Hippodrome site “first of many purchases within the town” by Council

Wrexham Council have announced they have purchased a long vacant town centre plot of land located on the South side of Henblas Street, and promised more purchases.

The site is currently cleared and secured and had a planning consent granted in 2006 (which has now lapsed) for the demolition of old building and construction of A1 commercial units.

It has remained vacant since the building burnt down in a mystery fire in June 2008. The cinema itself closed in 1997.

In 2018 we reported that the auction for the site  saw the hammer fall at £98,000, with various plans – some formal and some not lodged with Wrexham Council – would have seen construction of A1 commercial units, with 13 flats above.

The Council now say, “The acquisition and future development of this site is part of the approach signalled in the Town Centre Recovery Plan approved in July 2020 and forms part of the Council’s wider Place Making Strategy to ensure the regeneration and revitalisation of a key area within the town centre.”

“There will be a phased development of this site , Initially we will look to tidy the former Hippodrome Cinema site as it is currently overgrown with a variety of mixed bushes, trees and weeds. The tidy-up will involve scraping back and clearing the land of all growth-we will then maintain the site until further development. The site will also be secured to ensure the hoarding is robust and left in a safe state.”

Leader of Wrexham Council, Mark Pritchard said: “Having taken ownership of this site, we are now in control of its future.

“We aim to make sure that the spot is put to best use, and benefits town centre trade.

“This is the first of many purchases within the town where we will be looking at acquiring redundant properties that have been sitting empty for too long.

“I’m really pleased with the purchase of this plot of land, although it had taken longer than we would have liked.”

Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration Cllr Terry Evans said: “We have taken the positive steps of acquiring the former Hippodrome Cinema site.

“This is a long term empty site which has remained vacant since 1998. The acquisition and future development of the site is part of the approach signalled in the Town Centre Recovery Plan approved in July 2020 and forms part of the Council’s wider Place Making Strategy to ensure the regeneration and revitalisation of a key area within the town centre.”

Top picture: The site in tidier times.