St Malo developers announce shops plan for Pwllheli

Dec 24 2008 by Elgan Hearn, Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald

PROPERTY developers St Malo have revealed exciting plans for a multi-million pound retail park near Pwllheli town centre.

The proposal in Pwllheli provides for a food superstore together with 100,000 sq ft on non-food retail, surface-level shoppers carpark and road link between Cardiff and Ala Road, alleviating summer town-centre traffic congestion.

StMalo chairman Glyn Pritchard-Jones said: “In 2006, StMalo secured 40 acres of land south of Ala Road, that is adjacent to the town centre.

“The proposal is located on 18 acres of developable land that comprises low-lying grazing enclosures and brown-field land.

“It is anticipated that we will follow the LDP (Local Development Plan) process to seek adoption of the ‘candidate site’ following extensive consultations with Gwynedd County Council and the Environment Agency.

“Residents and holidaymakers would no longer need to drive 30 miles or 45 minutes to Bangor and 50 miles 110 minutes to Llandudno as a bespoke retail facility, on their doorstep provides a ‘carbon-neutral’ shopping solution.

“The development could provide a significant number of full and part-time jobs as well as provide an economic boost for the locality.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that the developer has expressed an interest in developing this particular site.

“Gwynedd Council has indicated that there would be considerable constraints with developing the site, primarily associated with proving a need for such retail development in Pwllheli and overcoming significant flood risk issues.

“The council will consider the planning merits of the site if it is put forward as part of the Local Development Plan process.”