PLANS to transform a former public house into a national retail unit could create up to 25 jobs in Colwyn Bay.
A planning application has been submitted to change the use of the Litten Tree in Station Road into a retail unit. Currently the building, which was formally a public house, is only permitted to sell food and drink. National chain, The Original Factory Shop, hope planning permission will be granted to transform the Station Road site into a thriving retail business, creating jobs in the town and bringing people into Colwyn Bay.
If plans go ahead the £250, 000 development could create up to 20-25 jobs in the town centre. Last month the Original Factory Shop, a non-food convenience retailer, announced it expected to create up to 1, 000 jobs by opening 35 stores across the UK.
The Litten Tree was boarded up on June 3 and a poster outside the property said the premises have been repossessed.
Cllr Hazel Meredith, mayor of Colwyn Bay, said with the regeneration project underway in the town, a retail unit is “great news.”
She said: “It is excellent for Colwyn Bay when new ventures come into the town. It is hard for us to compete with Llandudno with the retail park that they have. What is different about Colwyn Bay is that we have shops with a difference. Hopefully this will attract new businesses. Everything is looking really positive for Colwyn Bay at the moment.”
By 2020 the business, which sells men’s, women’s, children’s fashions, homewares, electronics and toiletries, is hoping to open 500 stores nationwide.
Colwyn Bay councillor Chris Hughes said 25 jobs is a “massive amount” for a town, which has been hit hard by the recession.
He said: “This business will support other shops, it will be the catalyst for other businesses to come into the town. It is excellent news. It will sell different things that we don’t have in the town.”
Cllr Janet Griffiths hoped plans would go ahead and create more jobs in the town, opening up new opportunities for residents.
Colin Leggart, Marketing Director of the Original Factory Shop, confirmed the discount chain hope to open in September if plans go ahead. He said a decision on changing the building into a retail unit is expected on July 7.
He said: “We have taken over a lot of the old Woolworths sites across the UK. We usually look for vibrant little towns, where some shops have closed. A town that is not big enough for a large supermarket like Tesco or Asda.
“We will be selling basic essentials, branded products and what we call cut labels that were sold in stores like Marks and Spencers. Fingers crossed we will be ready and open to give people another option for this year’s Christmas shopping,” he added.
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