Cannock snooker club headed for multi-million development
A former snooker club in Cannock town centre is poised to be transformed into shops, a pub and homes as part of a multi-million pound project.
The old Rileys Club on High Green will be converted into retail units, a micro pub and apartments.
Developer Fred Pritchard, aged 73, unveiled the plan which he says will regenerate the area and create dozens of jobs.
He said: "I can't wait to get stuck in and get started with the regeneration of this part of Cannock and give the area a lift with it all.
"Why have empty shops when you don't need to? Do things with them. Be intuitive. You have to work at these things, but it's coming together very nicely. I've got numerous applicants already interested."
The Newhall development of the High Green property is expected to cost somewhere between £2 million and £3m pounds and planning permission has already been applied for.
Up to 100 jobs are expected to be created during the construction work, and then more than 60 jobs will be available when the units open.
Tenants that have already signed up for one of the new Victorian-style shop front units include a coffee shop, a book seller, weight loss and holistic medicines, a beauty therapist and a hairdressers.
There will also be a micro pub. Mr Pritchard and his wife, Sarah, say the project will transform Cannock and bring in new businesses.
He said: "This project majors on giving High Green in Cannock town centre a new look for Newhall, which has been symbolic of the trend for larger shops fleeing the town centre."
There will also be 14 loft apartments on the first floor of the building. It was originally a Victorian meeting hall and has since been a supermarket, a Dunelm and Rileys snooker club.
Mr and Mrs Pritchard lodged a planning application after the purchase of the building was finalised. The couple operate under the company name Anglesey Real Estate.
Other upcoming projects for the pair include a 40-unit industrial and office development at Kingswood Lakeside, with further plans in the pipeline.
They say these plans will be carried out in quick succession after the Newhall development is completed. Mr Pritchard is a former president of Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce, and retired several years ago. But in November 2014, he announced his return to work with a proposal to develop 100 flats across the area.
