Latest news with #TomBraithwaite
Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Greggs opens new store in Welsh town despite health board objections
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. 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. 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. Article continues below 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. 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. Article continues below "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.
South Wales Argus
23-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Relocated Greggs opens in Pontypool after NHS objection
The popular chain, that describes itself as 'the UK's leading bakery food-on-the-go retailer' revealed plans to move into a vacant shop next to its existing store on George Street in the centre of Pontypool late last year. It confirmed the store has opened on Friday, May 23. Gwent's Aneurin Bevan University Health Board attempted to thwart the expansion by objecting to the firm's application to change the use class of the building at 13 to 15 George Street which is thought was last occupied by Superdrug. The objections were however ruled out by Torfaen Borough Council's planning department which said relocation of the store wouldn't mean there are too many food and drink outlets and neither would its selection of savoury goods such as the Steak Bake and sweat treats harm the 'vitality' of the town centre. Planning officer Tom 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. His report stated: '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.' The health board also said the shop would be close to schools but Mr Braithwaite said there is limited power to address concern about fast food outlets being close to schools. The new larger store in George Street, that also has indoor seating, will open from 6.30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 6pm on Sundays and the chain said it has created one additional job. Greggs had 12 staff at its previous shop on George Street. 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. We look forward to providing customers with a modern, convenient new place to experience their Greggs favourites.' When it submitted its planning application the firm stated 40 per cent of its range of products, in 2023, were 'healthier options' that contain fewer than 400 calories and with no red traffic lights, based on the UK Government's voluntary nutrition labelling scheme.
South Wales Argus
01-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Conversion of former Lloyds Bank Pontypool to flats approved
Lloyds Bank closed its branch in Hanbury Road, Pontypool in November 2019 and a failure to find new tenants for offices spaces within it has allowed the building to deteriorate. Owners S & J Real Estate Holdings Limited, who bought the site in 2024, say changes to banking and a lack of demand for office space due to home working have left the grade II listed building in the town's conservation area 'vulnerable to ongoing vacancy and decay'. Though most of the building will be converted to flats its intended to keep the ground floor former banking hall available for financial and professional services. The change of use planning permission, some structural repairs and changes to the inside of the building, including fire safety improvements, have been granted planning permission by Torfaen Borough Council's planning department and listed building consent has also been granted. A report by planning officer Tom Braithwaite stated six comments supporting the application had been received by the planning department with members of the public describing the former bank as 'an attractive building that has fallen into disrepair', a residential use would 'bring life back into an old building' and address critical housing need and boost footfall and support the 'vitality' of the town centre. The application said as well as supporting the upkeep of the three storey building and 'reinstating' some of its original character air conditioning units, steel bars placed on windows for security and steel fire escapes will be removed from the back of the building. A heritage report submitted as part of the application said the building, that was listed in 1974, was built between 1875-1878 to the designs of TR Lysaght of Bristol and described as a Victorian Italianate style office block. The bank was originally constructed for and operated by The West of England and South Wales District Bank, founded in 1834 in Bristol. Following rapid expansion the bank collapsed in 1878 with the liquidators blaming 'imprudent lending', partly to Welsh Iron companies though the bank's owners were accused of fraud with a trial at the old Bailey in 1880. Lloyds Bank took over branches of The West of England and South Wales District Bank in 1892 following its liquidation. Architect TR Lysaght was also responsible for the headquarters building in Corn Street Bristol.
