Wrexham bakery reveals expansion plans as it looks to recover from huge blaze

A bakery firm has revealed plans to expand one of its bases in Wrexham as it looks to recover from a huge blaze.

The Village Bakery on Coed Aben Road, Wrexham Industrial Estate was ravaged by a devastating fire back in August.

It meant production had to be increased at the family run company’s three other sites in order to continue supplying customers.

Managing director Robin Jones previously pledged the bakery would be rebuilt “bigger and better” than before.

Proposals have now been unveiled to extend a nearby facility on Ash Road South, known as “Gluten Freedom”, to allow the business to return to full capacity and protect jobs.

In documents put forward to Wrexham Council, representatives said: “The extension and alterations to the existing Gluten Freedom building will enable Village Bakery to regain production lost following the fire in August 2019.

“The site is in close proximity to the existing Village Bakery sites on Coed Aben Road and the new offices and bakery on Ash Road South granted planning permission in 2016.

“Extensions and alterations to the Caparo Wire building, now known as Gluten Freedom, was granted planning approval 29 January 2018.

“The building will be improved along with the retention of the existing highway access from Ash Road South.

“The proposals will allow Village Bakery to safeguard jobs and create new permanent living wage jobs in the Wrexham area.”

When the fire took place, the production area of the bakery was said to have been completely destroyed, while an adjoining office block was also badly damaged.

However, no injuries were reported and the firm thanked emergency crews for their quick response.

Speaking a month after the blaze took place, Mr Jones said plans to replace the original building were already underway.

He said: “We have been overwhelmed by the huge amount of support we have received from customers near and far.
“It has been humbling for us to realise the high regard in which we are held by so many people.

“There is no time for us to feel sorry for ourselves and hard work to restore lost capacity starts today.”

The application will be decided by the local authority’s planning department at a later date.

*Picture – Planning document

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme)