An application has been submitted to change the use of the ground floor of the former Poundworld on Bangor High Street for use as a restaurant.
The application proposal seeks to bring the vacant unit, which has been empty since August 2018, back into active use. The application proposes the change of use of the unit from A1 (Retail Shop) to A3 (Café/Restaurant).
Despite extensive marketing, including writing to targeted retailers and offering reduced rents, letting agents haven’t received any viewings or any serious enquiries since the unit was put on the market.
The planning application states: “It is clear that the use and retention of the A1 use of the ground floor unit has been comprehensively explored by way of marketing at reasonable market rates without success and the unit has remained vacant for almost two years.
“It can be clearly demonstrated, therefore, that the A1 use of the unit is no longer viable. It is the professional opinion of the letting agents and commercial property specialists that the most viable use for the unit is A3 (café/restaurant).”
The site comprises a ground floor unit with an internal floor area of approximately 250 square metres, with a frontage facing onto the High Street.
The proposal would not incorporate any external alterations to the frontage. It is therefore considered by the applicants, the proposed conversion would be in keeping with the surroundings and would not result in any adverse harm to the character of the city centre and its catchment.
Any alterations to the shopfront, the installation of flues, extraction and ventilation equipment or the installation of signage or advertisements will be the subject of separate planning and advertisement consent applications, where necessary.
The proposed opening hours would be 8:00 to 23:00 Monday to Friday and 8:00 to 23:00 Saturdays and Sundays including Bank Holidays.
The application stated: “The proposed change of use would not lead to an over-concentration of non-shopping uses or compromise the existing uses and activities.
“The proposed change of use would contribute positively towards a diverse mix of complementary retail uses, would reduce the number of vacant units along High Street and would contribute towards the viability and vitality of the wider Primary Shopping Area.”
