A prominent building in the heart of Bangor’s High Street could soon be transformed into much-needed housing, following the submission of a planning application to Gwynedd Council.

The proposal seeks to convert the former Halifax Bank premises at 243 – 245 Bangor High Street into a mixed-use development featuring 13 self-contained residential flats and a retained ground-floor retail unit.

The application, registered under C25/0186/11/LL, outlines plans to repurpose the five-storey building — including the lower ground, ground, first, second, and third floors — into flats under C3 residential use. An element of the ground floor would remain as commercial space, designated for A1 retail use, ensuring the building maintains a connection to the street’s retail character.

The building, a long-standing feature of Bangor’s main shopping street, was previously home to Halifax Bank, which closed its branch in April 2023 as part of a nationwide wave of closures announced by its parent company, Lloyds Banking Group. At that time, Halifax cited declining foot traffic and a shift towards online banking as reasons for the closure. The loss of the branch was particularly felt by local residents, especially the older population and small businesses that relied on in-person banking services. The building was later sold at auction for £156,000.

Since its closure, the building has remained vacant, raising concerns about the number of empty units on Bangor High Street and their impact on the local economy. The proposed redevelopment is being viewed as a potential step toward rejuvenating the area, balancing new housing with continued commercial activity.

According to documents submitted with the application, the design would aim to preserve the building’s frontage while upgrading internal layouts to provide modern accommodation. Each flat would be self-contained, and a mix of unit sizes is expected to cater to different housing needs, possibly attracting young professionals, students, or individuals working in the city centre.

The developers argue that the proposal supports local and national planning goals to bring vacant town centre properties back into use, reduce the demand for greenfield development, and create more sustainable urban living.

The recommendation is for the council’s planning committee to approve the scheme. when it next meets on Monday, 14 July.