Plans for Wrexham flats amended following window concerns

PLANS to turn an empty office in Wrexham into flats have been amended after concerns were raised over a bedroom with no window.

An application to convert a building on King Street, which was previously home to law firm Slater and Gordon, was put forward at the end of last year.

Applicant Michal Palamarczuk said it would result in five flats being created aimed at people working in the town centre.
However, members of the Wrexham Council’s planning committee placed the proposals on hold after claiming the flats would receive little natural daylight.

Councillors are now being asked to consider revised plans which would see the number of flats reduced from five to four to ensure each one has its own window.

In a report to committee members, Lawrence Isted, the local authority’s chief planning officer, said: “This application was deferred at the 12th April 2021 meeting so that improvements could be secured to ensure bedrooms benefit from more natural daylight.

“Amended ground floor plans have been received that reduce the number of flats proposed from five to four.

“All of the bedrooms in each flat now have a window as indeed do all other habitable rooms.

“The second bedroom to flat number two faces onto the access between numbers. 41 and 43, which is only 2.5m wide.

“To maximise the amount of daylight the room will receive the window has been enlarged.”

The building has stood empty for more than three years after the legal firm closed the branch in January 2018.

Speaking at last month’s meeting, local councillor Marc Jones said there should be a focus on ensuring good quality accommodation in the town.

He said: “The town centre is undergoing a transformation in terms of urban living and landlords looking to repurpose redundant and empty retail and office space and I support that.

“It’s not a problem if it’s done in a way that enhances the town and provides good quality accommodation for people to live in.

“But I’m afraid with regard to this planning application, I’ve got to ask whether living in a flat with no bedroom window, with some windows opening out above bins, and another window looks out on a wall less than three metres away is good quality accommodation.”

Following the amendments, the proposals have again been recommended for approval.
They will be considered by councillors at a virtual meeting on Monday (May 10, 2021).