Plans Proposed to Create New Retail Units in Vacant Pontypool Shop on Crane Street

PLANS to create new retail units in a prominent town centre shop that has been empty for more than a year have been put forward. 
The large shop on Crane Street was last occupied by Farmfoods before the frozen foods specialist closed its Pontypool store in early 2025. 
Crane Street was dealt a further blow last month when fashion chain Peacocks confirmed it was closing its store, with its final trading day due to be Wednesday, August 19. 
Homeware shop Danny Home opened on Crane Street in May this year occupying premises left vacant by the collapse of national chain Wilko’s in 2023.  
Traders in Pontypool have previously spoken about their concern at the loss of the flagship Peacocks shop from the town centre. 
Tania Britten, who owns The Craft Cabin at Pontypool Indoor Market’s Crane Street entrance said: “Footfall is already down. Peacocks is the only shop, even for people living in Pontypool, to attract people to come into town.” 
A planning application has proposed dividing the ground floor of 14 Crane Street into three commercial units and changing the use of the first floor from commercial to allow for five new flats. 
The application has been submitted by Salinder Singh of Six Star Construction Ltd with its address listed as 14 Crane Street. 
Its planned to subdivide the ground floor into three retail units with A1 use which covers retail shops and some services while a courtyard would also be created and new first floor windows installed. Cycle and bin storage would also be provided. 
The application is being considered by Torfaen Borough Council planners and members of the public have until Tuesday, September 1 to comment on the proposals.  ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​