PLANS have been entered which could see 14 new apartments created above an empty shop in Wrexham town centre.

An application has been put forward to Wrexham Council in respect of the former Clinton Cards store on Regent Street.

The unit closed in 2012 when the company entered administration, although it was able to maintain its presence at the nearby Eagles Meadow shopping centre.

The Regent Street store has stood empty ever since and hopes have been expressed that the development could lead to the ground floor being brought back into use.

The proposals by Harding Commercial are the latest in a series of schemes designed to revitalise the town centre’s fortunes by creating living space above vacant shops.

It follows an application to build more than 50 flats on Henblas Square being given the green light on appeal last year.

In a design and access statement submitted to the local authority, planning agents from D S Jones and Co. said: “The proposed development which constitutes the change of use of redundant and unnecessary space at first and second floor levels, will utilize space which is not required to support the retail use at ground floor level.

“The change of use and the resultant rental income will have the benefit of subsidising the rent required from the ground floor retail space in order to make the use of the whole building viable, thereby stimulating the re-use of the retail space and creating employment, further enhancing the vitality and viability of the town centre.

“It is proposed that all apartments should one bedroomed in order to attract single professional persons and couples.”

An extension would be added to the building at both the first and second floor levels of the existing building to accommodate eight apartments.

Meanwhile, a new extension would also be created at the rear of the property to include a further six units.

The agents added: “This extension and the resultant units will contribute significantly to the viability of the overall scheme having regard to the investment in the existing building to ensure it’s long term survival.”

It is expected that the plans will be decided by the council at a later date.