Vacant, 'tired' Wellington town centre buildings with 'rotting windows' could be demolished and replaced
Plans to demolish two neighbouring buildings in Wellington town centre and replace them with a shop and four apartments have been lodged with Telford & Wrekin Council.
If approved, 2 Walker Street and the terraced dual-fronted 15 Duke Street/Crown Street would be flattened, and replaced with one single retail unit and four flats above.
The application has been submitted on behalf of the local authority, which is currently working on several projects intended to revitalise the market town, including the Victorian market and the former YMCA building.
The end terrace 2 Walker Street - which was built in the 19th century - has been standing vacant for around five years. According to the application, it is now "in a dilapidated condition, is deemed beyond repair and is structurally unsound".
15 Duke Street was previously the home of Beautiful Bargains before that business relocated into Wellington Market, while Bath Bombs by JC occupied 15 Crown Street before moving to a colourful store on Bell Street.
The application states: "Not viable structurally, nor listed, both of the existing three-storey buildings have come to the end of their design life and the empty retail units in this prominent position bears a tired presence over the town centre.
"Excluding the physical structural integrity of the building there are significant aesthetic issues, including rotting windows, blown plaster across large portions of the render and significant issues with the roof.
"There are also significant performance issues in a 21st century context, which don’t meet modern thermal or energy performance standards. Considering the impact of works in this important location, it is considered that demolition and rebuilding to a better standard would offer the best and safest outcome."
The full application is available to view online, on Telford & Wrekin Council's planning portal, using reference number TWC/2024/0846.
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