Apartments planned for former bank

A former bank in Hednesford town centre could be transformed into apartments and businesses.

Plans have been lodged to transform the HSBC site, in Market Street, into either a restaurant or retail outlet at the front, with six flats to the rear, as well as three office suites.

The cashpoint will also be retained as Hednesford currently only has one operating bank. In addition, an application to create a restaurant or retail unit with five apartments at the former Oakfield bookmakers opposite, has also been lodged with Cannock Chase Council.

If the applications are successful, it is anticipated both Bank Court and the bookmakers site will be completed in around three months. Developer Fred Pritchard said the schemes will add to the growing vibrancy of Hednesford town centre.

He said: "They will bring more people to live in the town and provide shopping and other community facilities as well as supplementing the income of existing traders who are suffering in the recent economic climate, particularly in Hednesford as it does not have a retail base.

"We have also made car parking provisions close to the Bank Court development. When the district council finally brings in appropriate charges to get rid of the rail commuters who, in the main add nothing to the economy, the town's vitality will increase."

The applications have been called in for Cannock Chase Council's planning committee and are likely to be decided within the next two months.

Council cabinet member for employment Danny Davies said he was pleased: "These plans are to be welcomed. The regeneration of Hednesford is really starting to take shape. That will attract a lot of other people to look at investing there and can only be good."