New Life for Holyhead High Street

Published by Paul Diggory for North Wales Housing Association in Housing

The empty former Kwik Save store on Market Street in the centre of Holyhead is set to be transformed under an extensive refurbishment programme by North Wales Housing in partnership with Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The project is being partially grant funded by the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Holyhead Townscape Heritage Initiative, with contributions from the Welsh Government, Welsh European Funding Office and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Work is set to begin in Spring 2012 by the housing association to create a newly refurbished retail area for let with six two bedroom apartments on the floors above.

The building has been in decline since 2007 when Kwik Save closed nationally, after going into administration in July of that year. The impact of the store’s closure was the beginning of the departure of other major brands, including Woolworths and FADS in subsequent years due to the international financial crises, leaving the town centre without many long standing businesses.

This latest move by North Wales Housing in partnership with Isle of Anglesey County Council forms part of a continuing programme of regeneration and aims to breathe new life into the town centre, making it more desirable for new businesses and encouraging local people back to the town to shop and visit.

Phil Danson, Business Development Director at North Wales Housing, said, “We see this scheme as meeting two major objectives. Firstly, we are acting as a partner to the much needed programme of regeneration for Holyhead. The centre needs attention if we are to attract potential new business and indeed encourage footfall from the wider community. Secondly, the area above the retail store offers ideal space for conversion into flats, creating homes for local people and dealing with issue of a lack of local affordable housing. We’re really pleased to be involved in this scheme and see this as a really positive and much needed development for this area.

The redevelopment will be sympathetic to the surrounding Conservation Area and North Wales Housing has worked closely with the Council throughout the design and planning phases.

The Commissioner with responsibility for economic regeneration at the Isle of Anglesey County Council, Alex Aldridge, added, “The County Council are very pleased to be working in partnership with the North Wales Housing in delivering a much-needed refurbishment programme for this important building.  This project tackles a long-standing eyesore and provides new housing and retail opportunities, supporting the ongoing regeneration of Holyhead town centre.”