New bid to split unit at Retail Park

Welshpool Town Council will be asked tonight (Wednesday) to reverse its July decision to refuse permission for the remaining vacant unit behind B&M to be split into three for leasing as smaller shops.

During the summer, developers wanted to split the large unit so that a Costa or a Starbucks could be opened along with two other shops.

It faced heavy opposition, but developers have now resubmitted the bid to split into three, but this time without trying for permission to open a café.

Back in July, the town council said they were against the decision for a number of reasons, including:

-       The creation of three smaller units is a threat to the Town Centre where such small shops are located. The Town Council does not wish the centre of the town to move any further away from Broad Street.

-       The Town Council has worked hard with businesses over the last 10 years to keep the town vibrant and it is no accident that out of some 169 shop units only 3% are vacant.  The Town Council wishes to see this level of vacancy remain at that level or less.  The café and breaking up the unit into three would put this work under threat.

Town Clerk, Robert Robinson told us: “The first application for division of the new units by B&M’s included a cafe and this has been refused by PCC. There is now a second application for division of the units without a cafe. I would think it is to aid lettings, the Council will make its decision without a recommendation.