The video will start in 8 Cancel

Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The owner of a ‘ghost’ shopping centre that threatened to board it up over its high business rates has seen tax bosses slash the figures.

Property developer Mandale invested £4m into buying and renovating Henblas Square in Wrexham which had been left a ghost avenue of stores as footfall plummeted.

They had reduced rents to between £9,000 and £16,000 to get tenants in but rates remained between £26,000 and £36,000 - which they claimed deterred anyone from moving in.

The developer said they would board up the site unless action was taken.

(Image: Melissa Cross)

This triggered a major reaction in the town and across North Wales with concerns voiced about how rates were impacting the retail sector.

Now estates director Joe Darragh says they have received a new set of rates figures after lodging an appeal with the Valuation Office Agency.

(Image: Publicity)

This has seen rates cut to between £13,800 and £16,600.

He said they already had two units now under offer following the change in rates.

They now hope to secure further lettings and breathe life back into this part of the Wrexham.

Cllr Marc Jones, Plaid Cymru’s group leader at Wrexham council, said: “It’s high time town centre business rates were reduced.

(Image: Handout)

"Times have changed and high streets are struggling.

“We need lower rates for town centres and rebalance the system by ensuring large out-of-town malls and supermarkets make up any difference.”

Colin Flannigan of property agent St Davids Commercial has said action was needed to reform business rates and tackle planning red tape to help town centres to flourish.

Ben Francis, FSB Wales policy chair said: “Business rates are often the second most significant cost to a business and, as we see too often, challenge the ability of businesses to trade.”