Denbighshire Council to convert two Rhyl town-centre buildings into affordable homes and refurbished shops

# What the plan is Denbighshire County Council is moving ahead with a redevelopment project for two properties in Rhyl town centre: 64 High Street and 2–4 Wellington Road. The council intends to appoint a contractor to carry out the work that will convert vacant upper floors into affordable homes and refurbish the ground-floor retail spaces for new businesses.

# Why the council is doing this The council frames the work as a step toward increasing the number of people living in the town centre, which it expects will support local shops and help create a more active, sustainable community. The project aims to make better use of existing buildings rather than relying solely on new construction.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said the scheme is part of the council's strategy to rejuvenate town centres in Denbighshire and to provide "much-needed affordable homes while also providing modern commercial spaces that will help support local businesses and attract more people into the town centre."

# What will change on the ground

• Upper floors: Vacant space will be refurbished into modern, energy-efficient affordable homes. The council emphasizes energy efficiency as a feature, signalling improvements to thermal performance and likely upgrades to heating and insulation.
• Ground-floor units: Retail premises will be renovated to create contemporary commercial space ready for future tenants. That should make units more attractive to small businesses and help stimulate footfall.

# Timeline and next steps The council is completing a procurement process to appoint a contractor. Once the procurement concludes, construction work is expected to start later in the year. No firm construction schedule or completion date is provided in the available information.

# How this fits with wider local plans The project is presented as one element of a broader effort by Denbighshire County Council to rejuvenate Rhyl town centre. The stated objectives are straightforward: increase housing supply in the town centre, support local businesses with improved commercial space, and create a busier, more sustainable high street.

# What to watch for next

• Announcement of the contractor and details of the construction contract, including timings and scope.
• Planning or permit notices, if any further consents are required before work starts.
• Details about the number and size of the affordable homes being created, eligibility and allocation policies, and any community engagement events for local businesses and residents.

# Practical implications for residents and businesses

# Bottom line The council plans to reuse vacant upper floors in two central Rhyl buildings to create energy-efficient affordable homes and to modernize the ground-floor retail units. The procurement process is underway and construction is scheduled to start later this year, forming part of Denbighshire's broader town-centre regeneration strategy.