Plans to develop a brand new shop and garden centre at an empty space on a Pontypridd retail unit have been revealed.
If all goes well the plans will see the former Argos store, within Brown Lennox Retail Park, completely transformed to bring life back to the old unit.
The existing commercial building is currently unoccupied, and it has been this way since Argos re-located to the nearby Sainsbury's superstore on Brown Lennox Road.
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At the moment, the plans are only presented in the form of a draft submission, but the applicant says the site "presents an excellent opportunity to regenerate a disused commercial unit and bring investment and new employment into the local area".
According to the draft plan, which can be found on the Brown Lennox Retail Park website, the aim is to "retain the commercial context of the site with a proposed B&M store, and to extend the existing site to the north and west to provide a larger commercial space and associated garden centre".
It also says the site was formerly identified in the Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan, which highlights the need for strong retail provision to "complement and enhance" the retail status of Pontypridd.
Outlining the plan, the website states: "Our plan is to re-generate the existing unit with a proposed extension to the north and front side of the site, improving the economic viability of the site and to provide space for a new garden centre.
"The proposal will continue to operate under the current Class A1 designations therefore falling under the same use class as the former Argos.
"The proposed scheme of extensions will consist of a circa 1,309 square metre extension to the unit enhancing the underused land to the side of the unit and projecting out to the front.
"With the extension to the site there will be a slight loss of parking spaces, but based on a detailed transport assessment, any impact on highway safety and overall parking supply across the retail park will be negligible.
"The proposal responds sensitively to the surrounding and existing layout of the retail park and units by utilising and enhancing the use of an underused corner of the site, keeping the height of the site at the same levels as it is now and with a new retail frontage that will modernise the appearance of the retail park."
The retail park already homes a number of shops including Sports Direct and Currys & PC World, with the site located in the terrace at the northern edge of the site.
There is also a B&Q unit and garden centre on the opposite side of the retail park, together with parking facilities at the site.
To the north of the retail park there is a row of trees that separates the site from the neighbouring residential properties.
These homes are outside of the site boundary and are said to be "unaffected by the proposals". You can view the full draft planning submissions here.
More information about the proposals can be found at the website, where you can fill out a feedback form that will give you a chance to share thoughts on the proposals.
Any concerns about the proposals need to be raised by March 16, 2022.
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