Wrexham: Old Chatwins bakery could become shop and HMO

A planning application has been submitted to Wrexham Council in relation to the old Chatwins store on the High Street.

The bakery closed suddenly in July 2022 following an incident where staff were threatened with violence and significant damage was caused to the property.

The building has since stood empty and proposals have now been brought forward to convert it into retail space on the ground floor.

The plans by JRML Property Holdings Limited would also see a nine-bedroom HMO created on the three upper floors.

Agents acting on the company's behalf said the scheme would help to revive the fortunes of the city centre.

Plans for the old Chatwins bakery in Wrexham city centre (Image: Planning document)

In a design and access statement, they said: “Located on one of the main boulevards through Wrexham, the site and its limited curtilage are filled by the now vacant Chatwins bakery building.

“A strategic objective of the emerging Local Development Plan is to regenerate Wrexham town as a multi-functional destination to include retail, education, civic, amenity, employment, leisure and residential uses.

“This objective will be achieved in part by enhancing the vitality, attractiveness and viability of the town centre as a major destination to live, visit and shop.

“We submit that the application satisfies the criteria set out in the following statutory documents and complies.”

They added: “Fronting the High Street, it is intended to retain a commercial use class at ground floor, and this measures circa 65 square metres.

“The refurbished proposal, aside from the ground floor commercial offering, is intended for HMO use.”

When Chatwins closed its doors in 2022, the company said it was no longer confident in its ability to keep staff and customers safe, making its presence in the city centre "no longer tenable".

Recruitment issues and ongoing problems with rubbish and other waste being dumped in the alleyway behind the bakery were also cited as being behind the decision.

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The new plans for the building show one double bedroom with an ensuite bathroom would be located on the first floor, along with a kitchen and cycle storage area.

Meanwhile, two further double bedrooms and two single bedrooms would be created on the second floor, along with a laundry area, and the same amount and size of bedrooms proposed on the third floor.

The agents added: “The internal accommodation as proposed, provides spacious well-proportioned accommodation for modern living.

“It is intended that the bedroom accommodation fronting the main street will receive a suitable secondary glazing system and this will be designed to achieve sound reduction.”

A decision will be made on the application by the local authority at a later date.