NEW artist impressions reveal how the entrance of the re-developed Queen’s Market will look.
A new planning application for the development has been submitted as demolition work gets underway on the Queen's Buildings in Rhyl, ahead of its multi-million pound transformation.
Denbighshire County Council have appointed contractor Wye Valley Demolition to demolish ''unsafe areas" and to remove any remaining asbestos.
The local authority is working with private sector development partners, including Ion Development, to transform the Queen’s Market into a mix of retail, food and beverage, contemporary market, office and residential space.
Accessibility from the waterfront and promenade into the town centre will also be improved.
The entrance to Queen’s market from high street - this entrance to the site will be used by pedestrians coming from high street, italso being a pedestrian street. Picture: Design and Access Statement January 2021
A Design and Access statement, submitted with the latest plans this January, says: "The proposed landscape spaces of the Queen’s Market will expand the existing public realm and extend the town centre - it being adjacent and linked to the main shopping street in Rhyl.
"The queens market development will include planted spaces, places to gather, and spill out spaces for the commercial units and market.
Demolition work taking place on site January 2021. Picture: Jasmine Hemmings
"There are five proposed external public spaces. The proposed routes through the site are: Queen’s Market street (between Queens St and High Street)and West Parade.
"The proposed public squares: Main square (to the West); Garden square (to the East); West parade square.
West parade square marks the main entrance of the site -leading to the market hall and event space beyond It is the main pedestrian link between Queen’s market and sea front. Picture: Picture: Design and Access Statement January 2021
"The entrances to Queens Market from High Street, Queen Street and Sussex Street have dropped bollards to restrict vehicular access."
The main square will act as an open space for external events, seasonal markets and pop-up performances.
After Denbighshire County Council took ownership of the buildings, it was decided - after a number of assessments - that a large chunk of the site would need to be demolished.
The Queen’s Chamber will remain within the buildings and will be refurbished.
The entrance to Queen’s market from Queen street - the other end of Queen’s market street. Picture: Design and Access Statement January 2021
The Queen’s Buildings complex includes a number of different properties including: The former Savoy Bistro and the car park behind; The former Queen’s Hotel which has been intermittently used as a seasonal restaurant with a nightclub above; The former Queen’s Theatre which is now derelict but was previously used as a bowling alley; The vacant land-locked retail unit 'J' which has no street frontage, the partly occupied Queen’s Market Hall and the Bright Spot amusement arcade and adjacent seasonally let retail units at 2-6 High Street.
Initially, the three phase re-development project was projected to cost £30million.
Costs are now said to be nearer £15m, with the demolition having only just started.
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