An eyesore derelict building in Caerphilly town centre, once a popular fashion store, and latterly a furniture shop, is being turned into flats and commercial space. Manchester House, located just off Van Road, has been vacant for around 10 years.
The property's former owner, Jatinder Khehra, previously spoke to WalesOnline after submitting a planning application to the council in the hope of developing the building into flats and office space. However, this did not come to fruition and the planning application expired.
In 2022, Bedwas-based property developer, SJR Property Investments, bought Manchester house and re-submitted the planning permission, which the council granted in December. Now, the business - run by brothers Josh, 30, and Sam, 26 - hopes to begin work as soon as April.
Read more: Couple who paid builder £27k still left without roof and front door 10 months later
Josh said: "We are actually very, very close to getting in there to start the work. We picked up the planning application put in by the previous owner to get approved again because it had expired. That was approved in December and we are hoping to start work in mid-April. Hopefully it will take nine or 10 months."
Altogether, the plans involve commercial space on the ground floor and four residential flats on the floor above. Josh said he had already received interest from businesses hoping to use the ground floor, but nothing had been agreed yet.
Describing the current state of the building, Josh said: "It's looking pretty bad at the moment. The previous owner used it as storage and it has been closed for 10 or more years. The roof is no longer intact so everything is soaking wet. The internal plaster boarding has come away. [Parts] are rotten with the ground floor foundation exposed
"We've had a lot of people saying it needs some love, care and attention - which is why we purchased it. It will be nice to see some life breathed back into it and to take away the eyesore that it currently is."
The brothers have worked on a number of developments in Caerphilly borough, and recently renovated a tired family property in Bedwas into a mesmerising dream home. Once Manchester House is complete, it will look similar to the original building with a wooden shop face. Josh said: "It will look very similar to what's there already, we will be renewing the existing landmark. The council wanted it to be like-for-like when we submitted the application. There will be some amendments and it will all be new, but there will still be a wooden shop face. Internally, the flats will be in line with modern living."
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