Holywell listed building set for café conversion
Planning application aims to turn a vacant Grade II listed former butcher’s shop in Holywell into a new café, preserving historic features while revitalising the town centre.
A planning application lodged with Flintshire County Council seeks to convert the vacant ground‑floor of a prominent Grade II listed building in Holywell town centre into a new café.
The three‑storey property, erected in the early 19th century, is listed by Cadw for its architectural and historic significance and sits within the town’s conservation area.
Historically the building housed the Spread Eagle Public House, later became JR Davies Outfitters, and most recently operated as a butcher’s shop before being used as a credit union.
According to the Planning and Heritage Impact Statement prepared by Paterson Macaulay & Owens, the proposal involves a change of use only, with no alterations to the principal frontage, upper floors, roof or other historic features.
The heritage statement notes that the building’s most significant elements – original sash windows, decorative cornices, historic doors and a winding staircase – are concentrated on the upper floors and exterior.
By contrast, the ground‑floor space has been extensively altered over the years to accommodate commercial uses and is deemed to have a lower level of heritage significance.
The café would occupy this altered ground‑floor area, while the first and second floors would remain a single residential accommodation, with no subdivision proposed.
Work outlined in the application includes the installation of a new kitchen, a disabled toilet and a new incoming gas main.
The statement confirms that no changes are planned to the historic façade, sash windows, roof, chimney stacks or the existing shopfront.
Any future replacement of the current aluminium shopfront with a more traditional design would be submitted as a separate application.
Applicants argue that returning the long‑vacant premises to active use would benefit the town centre and preserve the character of the listed building and its surrounding conservation area.
The impact assessment concludes that the café can be accommodated “without harming the building’s special architectural or historic interest” and would provide a sustainable new use for the property.
It also states that the proposal would have a “neutral” overall heritage impact while helping return a historic High Street building to viable use.
Proposed opening hours are 08:00‑21:00 Monday to Friday, 08:00‑23:00 on Saturday and 09:00‑15:00 on Sunday and Bank Holidays.
The application now proceeds to the council’s planning committee for consideration, where it will be examined alongside other recent proposals in Flintshire, including a Turkish restaurant and new padel courts.
If approved, the café could become a new social hub on Holywell’s high street, offering a refreshed amenity for residents and visitors alike.
Local residents have expressed cautious optimism, noting that the building has remained empty for several years and that a vibrant café could inject much‑needed footfall into the town centre.
Flintshire’s planning officers will assess the scheme against the council’s policies on heritage preservation, sustainable development and the regeneration of town centres.
The decision is expected later this year, with the applicant indicating readiness to commence works promptly should permission be granted.