Parking fears over former ‘cannabis factory’ flats plan

Welshpool Town Council is concerned that too many town centre residential developments are being approved without any thought going into where residents will park.

Several applications to convert business and retail space into flats have been approved in recent years, and this week they were asked to consider two new one-bedroom apartments, as well as two retail units, at the former County Times offices.

The building has been empty for several years apart from when it was used as an illegal cannabis factory which was found by police during a raid in 2024. It sold recently at auction for £67,500.

But while plans to put the derelict building to good use were backed by the Town Council’s Planning Committee, they were again concerned that no parking is being considered.

Cllr Phil Owen said: “Seems to be a reasonable development and ticks all the right boxes but it is omitting any car parking arrangements.

“If you are trying to encourage mixed-use developments in the town centre then you have to include parking otherwise I don’t think you really attract the right type of people to live in these developments. If you want young professionals or even a young family you really have to provide some car parking.”

His comments were echoed by Cllr Nick Howells who said: “I am very concerned that many of the recent approved developments in the town, with buildings changing into accommodation which is great, but there is just not the parking. We need to look at the infrastructure and particularly the parking facilities because there aren’t any.”

Then he joked: “But at least this might deter it from becoming a cannabis factory again!”

The Mayor, Cllr Bill Rowell, also took a swipe at the proposal for “deliberately failing to address the parking issue” by explaining that the application was trying to encourage the use of bikes and public transport. He was also sceptical about plans to put two retail unites down there, adding: “I am also not really aware that there is a demand for two more retail outlets because there are some that are standing empty at the moment.”

But Cllr Jackson Quarréll said it would work as he knew a lot of people were looking for single bedroom apartments like this who didn’t have a vehicle.

The Town Council Planning Committee voted to note the application with a comment about the lack of parking.

PICTURE: A throw back to January 2024 when a drugs factory was discovered at the former County Times offices.