Trampoline park plans for former Debenhams set for approval
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Plans to bring Wrexham’s former Debenhams store back to life as a trampoline park look set to receive the green light.
The department store at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre closed its doors in May 2021 after the high street chain entered administration.
A planning application was submitted in March for part of the building to be re-used for leisure purposes after standing empty for nearly three years.
It follows the owners of Eagles Meadow revealing talks with a firm interested in transforming the first floor of the unit into a children’s trampoline park.
The proposals by Wrexham Shopping Mall Ltd are now due to be considered by the local authority’s planning committee next week.
The scheme has been recommended for approval by Wrexham Council’s chief planning officer, despite concerns being raised about potential health and safety issues.
David Fitzsimon said it would help revive the fortunes of the shopping centre, where several shops have closed in recent years, with Marks and Spencer relocating to the Plas Coch retail park in late-2023.
In a report, he said: “The application site accounts for nearly one third of the retail floor space in Eagles Meadow.
“It has been vacant since 2021 and is therefore not making a positive contribution to the vitality and viability of the primary shopping street, the Eagles Meadow development as a whole or the wider city centre.
“The applicant’s design and access statement confirms that the site has been actively marketed. However, there has been no interest from prospective retail tenants.
“The proposed use would be appropriate for a city centre location and would bring a large vacant unit back into use.
“(It would) attract footfall to the primary shopping street and therefore contribute positively towards the vitality and viability of Eagles Meadow and the wider city centre.”
A total of four responses have been received from members of the public regarding the plans.
Among the concerns raised are the possible impact on the health and safety of customers and the loss of retail space in the city centre.
Local councillor Jon Jolley has also cast doubt over whether the building’s ceiling is high enough to accommodate a trampoline park.
However, Mr Fitzsimon said safety issues were outside the planning committee’s remit.
He added: “Concerns regarding potential health and safety issues of trampoline parks are matters for the potential future occupier of building.
“Future occupiers would need to ensure compliance with relevant health and safety standards, which is a matter outside of the scope of planning control.”
The proposals show the unit would be subdivided between the ground and first floor, with a new entrance created on the shopping centre’s balcony.
Food and drink are also expected to be served from the same location as the old Debenhams cafe.
The application will be considered by councillors at their next meeting on Monday (July 22, 2024).
By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter
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