Greggs opens new store in Welsh town despite health board objections

Wales Online

26-05-2025

Greggs opens new store in Welsh town despite health board objections
The town is home to some of the most deprived wards in Wales where health expectations are relatively low in comparison to the rest of the country
George Street, Pontypool, where a Greggs has opened despite an objection from the health board
(Image: Media Wales )
A new Greggs bakery has opened its doors at a Welsh high street despite health officials' worries about "unhealthy food". The well-loved brand, self-proclaimed as "the UK's leading bakery food-on-the-go retailer", opted to expand into a previously unoccupied shop adjacent to its establishment on George Street in Pontypool's town centre last year.
The company has confirmed that the bakery began serving customers on Friday, May 23, despite vociferous objections from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
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Writing to planners the health board had said it had concerns about what it called the proliferation of food and drink outlets within Pontypool town centre.
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Pontypool as a town is home to some of the most deprived wards in Wales where health expectations are relatively low in comparison to the rest of the country.
The health board raised the location of the new Greggs near to a school as a concern and cited worries too about the store's impact on local eating habits.
But planning officer Tom Braithwaite said there is a limited capacity to tackle issues regarding fast food outlets being situated near schools.
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Planners gave the premises the green light when an application to repurpose the building at 13 to 15 George Street – formerly home to Superdrug – came under review.
Torfaen Borough Council's planning committee dismissed the objections, stating that the additional outlet would not lead to an excessive concentration of food and drink premises in the area nor would it dent the "vitality" of the town centre.
Mr Braithwaite said the type of goods sold couldn't determine the application as it was for mixed retail and food and drink uses so could be operated by any business in those use classes.
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His report concluded: "The nature of the occupier and the goods that they sell in this instance cannot prejudice the favourable determination of this application, and on balance does not warrant refusal of the scheme presented."
Greggs' new expanded outlet on George Street, featuring indoor seating, will operate from 6.30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sundays. The chain confirmed that it retained all 12 members of staff from its former George Street location.
Gillian Long, retail operations director for Greggs, said: "We're excited to be welcoming customers to our new and improved shop in Pontypool, with one new member joining the existing team.
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"We look forward to providing customers with a modern, convenient new place to experience their Greggs favourites."
In its planning application, the company stated that, as of 2023, 40% of its product range were "healthier options", each containing under 400 calories and without any red traffic lights, adhering to the UK Government's voluntary nutrition labelling scheme.