Caerphilly County Borough Council has been informed that national chain JD Wetherspoon has shown an interest in purchasing the former Co-Co building in Caerphilly town centre.
Cllr Ron Davies, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Countryside said, “This is great news that JD Wetherspoon has shown an interest in purchasing the former Co-Co building, and have proposed the signing of a conditional lease agreement with the building’s owners.”
He continued: “This agreement is at very initial stage – planning permission for change of use and other matters will need to dealt with in the normal way. We have been led to understand the company intends to totally refurbish the premises to achieve the high Wetherspoon standard. A good quality family restaurant is just what we need to compliment the town’s shopping centre.”
The building has over recent months been the subject of extensive public discussion, and despite attempts by the council to work with the building’s owners to brighten up the building with impressive artwork designs to the exterior, many still felt the building to be something of a blot on the Caerphilly town centre landscape.
Cllr Davies continued, “There has been much discussion about regeneration of the top of town in Caerphilly, and it is no secret that our ambitious plans to breathe new life into this part of the town have been placed on the ‘back burner’ in the current economic climate, so this is great news for the town and local people. This proposal is being warmly greeted by local residents as JD Wetherspoon is a very respected company. The development will help to regenerate the upper part of the town centre and give an modern upbeat feel in our county borough’s landmark town.”
