A SCHEME to develop a former Bangor city centre Halifax branch into flats for young professionals, singles and couples has been approved.
The mid-terrace property on High Street ceased being used as the building society in April 2023.
Cyngor Gwynedd’s planning committee agreed to a plan to provide 13 one-bedroom apartments when it met on Monday, July 14.
The plans also included retention of a ground floor commercial area.
The application was made by Gurjinder Dhaliwal of DGLM Properties Ltd. The full application was for a change of use of the existing five-floor property to create self-contained residential flats.
The units, spread across five floors, would be each fitted with a bathroom, bedroom area and combined kitchen and living space.
A refuse area and bicycle storage would also be provided on the lower ground floor, but no parking.
The scheme noted: “The commercial use of the ground floor will mean that the property remains in keeping with the surrounding buildings in the nearby area and along the high street, which are largely all used in some form for commercial use.”
It will provide “a smaller but more affordable unit to rent out, encouraging and enabling local businesses to move to the High Street and bring a positive economic impact to the area”.
The agent, Sion Roberts, told the meeting the plans for the “substantial building” were “suitable” and “appropriate”.
It addressed a “significant need” for the type of housing and offered an improvement to “the viability” of the High Street, bringing back an empty building into use.
“There is a shortage of such residential properties for young professionals, couples and single people, consequently this leads to many people moving out of the area, such as to Bethesda, Caernarfon and Anglesey to look for accommodation,” he said.
He said the need “for such units far outweighs the demand” and said the properties have been “designed to be affordable”.
He added that the retail area would “encourage” local business and “bring positive economic impact”.
Cllr Gareth Coj Parry proposed accepting the scheme, seconded by Cllr Berwyn Parry Jones, who “welcomed” its likelihood of “affordability”.
The committee voted nine in favour, one abstention and two against.
During the discussion, Cllr Gareth Roberts queried the parking, but was told by the planning officer Gareth Jones, it was “standard” for a town or city centre development to use existing public parking areas.
Cllr Gruff Williams challenged the plan’s need, claiming there were falling numbers at the university and fewer people coming from overseas since lockdown.
He also cited figures stating: “Bangor’s population was set to fall by 4% by 2043”. He added: “Check AI if you don’t believe me.”
He said: “Who are we converting all these buildings for? Almost without exception since I have been on the council for the past 13 years, almost monthly or three weekly, we consider plans for HMOs in Bangor.
“The place is filling up with these type of homes. We need housing for families on the outskirts of Bangor. I won’t support this.”
Cllr Edgar Wyn Owen said he “did not believe those figures” and that there was a need for the homes.
“I know quite a few people, and we hear from nurses working at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, tired of travelling back and forth to Anglesey,” he said.
“We are losing nurses because they can’t get places in Bangor… it is essential we retain people in Bangor and have flats for them.”
He added this was not a HMO, stating “a HMO in Bangor had not been considered for some time”.
The planning officer also confirmed the development was not a HMO – a house of multiple occupancy – but was flats, and added that the council’s housing unit and evidence from estate agents had “confirmed” demand for the homes.
