FORMAL proposals have been submitted to transform the former site of Wrexham’s Hippodrome cinema.

Plans have been entered to create two new retail units on Henblas Street in the town centre, with 13 apartments above them.

It follows a consultation being held by Hindle Property Investments Ltd last month over the scheme to redevelop the site, which was bought at auction for £98,000.

The old cinema was destroyed by fire in 2008 and later cleared after it originally closed its doors in 1997, and the land has sat vacant ever since.

In a planning statement, the company said: “The application site is located on Henblas Street, Wrexham, formerly the home of a public hall and corn exchange destroyed by fire in 1906.

“A new public hall and theatre was constructed in 1909 called the Opera House and Public Hall.

“This building was later renamed the Wrexham Hippodrome in 1911 and was renamed again in 1929 when it became the Hippodrome Cinema.

“On June 16, 2008 a major fire caused extensive damage to the building and 10 months later in April 2009, the theatre was demolished following planning approval for replacement new retail units.

“The redevelopment of the application site is specifically identified within the conservation area assessment and management plan as a desired outcome for the enhancement of the historic quality of the town centre.”

The plans would see ten studio apartments and three one-bedroom

apartments built at first and second floor level over two ground floor retail units.

In response to the consultation, both Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Water asked that any drainage issues be addressed.

In August plans were also revealed to regenerate the deserted Henblas Square shopping centre opposite the site, where more than 50 apartments could be built.

Manchester-based MCR Property submitted an application to turn offices on the first floor of the multi-million pound development, where all but one shop currently sits vacant, into 55 apartments.