Plans submitted to convert floors above town centre shop into new apartments

The floors above a town centre shops could soon be converted into accomodation.

In an application submitted to Wrexham Council it has been proposed the “unused first, second and third floors” above Select – a clothing store on Hope Street – are redeveloped to house 12, one bedroom apartments.

If approved “minor changes” are also proposed to the layout of the ground floor accomodation to provide “dedicated rear external access to the proposed apartments”.

The retail space on the ground floor will be retained as a “self-contained single storey unit of commercial accomodation.”

This will include removing the existing public staircase between ground and first floor levels and the decommissioning and removal of the passenger lift at the rear of the building.

In a design and access statement, the applicants add: “The rear single storey outrigger which currently provides storage and fitting rooms will be remodelled to provide staff accommodation and toilets in addition to the current storage area and fitting rooms.”

On the upper floors plans show that if approved four apartments would be created on each of the three floors – with the accomodation consisting of an open plan kitchen, living and dining area, one bedroom and a bathroom.

The applicants add: “The proposed development which constitutes the change of use of redundant and unnecessary space at first, second and third floor levels, will utilise space which is not required to support the retail use at ground floor level.

“The change of use and the resultant rental income will have the benefit of subsidising the rent required from the ground floor retail space in order to make the use of the whole building viable, thereby protecting the long term use of the retail space, preserving employment and further enhancing the vitality and viability of the Town Centre.

“It is proposed that all apartments should be one bedroomed in order to attract single professional persons and couples.”

The application will be considered for approval by Wrexham Council at a later date.