PLANS to turn a former branch of HSBC in Flintshire into a repair and reuse centre with a cafe have taken a significant step forward.

It follows a formal planning application being submitted to transform the bank on Brunswick Road in Buckley, which closed in November 2015.

The community facility would be used to provide repairs to household items, lessons on upcycling and sell products made from recycled materials.

The scheme has been brought forward as part of a partnership between Refurbs Flintshire, Flintshire Council and Groundwork North Wales.

Grant funding has been awarded towards the costs of the project via the Welsh Government’s Green Recovery Circular Economy Fund.

In a statement released when the award of the money was announced in January, the organisations involved said: “Flintshire County Council and Refurbs Flintshire are pleased to announce that they have been successful in their joint application to the ‘Green Recovery Circular Economy Fund 2020-21’ to bring funding to Buckley for a new and exciting project in the town centre.

“This project will deliver a newly developed repair and reuse Centre with a community café in the heart of Buckley town centre in the former HSBC bank building.

“The facility will promote community cohesion through repair and reuse initiatives, whilst providing an opportunity to support the regeneration of one of Flintshire’s town centres.

“The long term aim of the project is to promote education and behavioural change on waste and recycling initiatives, providing volunteering opportunities and employment for local people.”

At the time the bank was closed, HSBC said the decision had been taken because of falling customer numbers.

The town has since been left with no banks and plans to turn the former Lloyds building into apartments are set to be discussed by councillors later this week.

Feedback on the proposals to convert the HSBC branch is currently being invited through the local authority’s planning website.

The council is expected to make a decision on the scheme at a later date.