Plans for New Caernarfon Road Retail Unit Refused by Council

Plans to build a new retail unit at Menai Retail Park on Caernarfon Road, Bangor, have been refused by Gwynedd Council after planners ruled that the need for additional retail space had not been proven.

The proposal sought permission to construct a 465sqm retail unit adjacent to the existing Currys store, along with associated access, landscaping, and servicing. The retail park currently includes national chains such as Currys PC World, The Food Warehouse, TK Maxx, and Pets at Home.

Developers resubmitted the scheme after earlier plans, originally approved in 2016, expired before construction began. The new application again requested open A1 consent, which would allow a wide variety of retailers to operate from the site.

According to the applicant, several retailers are actively seeking modern units in Bangor with good parking provision and straightforward access, and the proposed development could help meet that demand.

However, the Council’s Planning Authority was not convinced. In its decision, it stated that the applicant had failed the sequential test, a key requirement for out-of-town retail proposals. Planners concluded that the developer had not adequately demonstrated why the new unit could not be accommodated within Bangor’s defined town centre or on a site closer to it.

The Council said it was “not persuaded that there is a proven need” for additional retail floorspace at Menai Retail Park and ruled that the scheme conflicted with local planning policies, as well as the national guidance.

The decision means that, for now, the plot beside Currys will remain undeveloped unless revised plans are brought forward or the applicant chooses to appeal. Despite the setback, interest in Bangor from national retailers remains high, and the developer has previously argued that flexible, well-located units such as the one proposed are in demand.

Whether a revised scheme can satisfy the Council’s requirements remains to be seen, but the appetite for new retail opportunities on the city’s outskirts is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.