Neath Port Talbot Council has applied for planning permission to redevelop a key building in Neath Town Centre to provide new office accommodation.

It’s hoped the new offices will help create jobs and business opportunities as well as attracting further economic investment to the area.

The historic, Grade II listed 8, Wind Street, with its sash windows and impressive stonework, has been vacant for more than 13 years and the refurbishment will be sympathetic to CADW requirements.

The scheme will also allow a small amount of onsite parking to complement the proposed office use. The building is located towards the top of Wind Street in Neath Town Centre and is surrounded by retail outlets on either side in what is the main retail area in Neath.

The planned new office complex at 8, Wind Street is part of ambitious redevelopment proposals for the centre of Neath which include a brand new swimming pool and leisure centre, providing modern facilities and boosting footfall in the town.

The new pool and leisure centre will replace the current, ageing facilities at nearby Dyfed Road and will be accompanied by six new retail units which will complement the existing town centre multi-storey car park, the Gwyn Hall leisure and arts facility and recently completed public realm improvements.

Councillor Annette Wingrave, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development, said:

”The work will bring an iconic building within the town centre back in to use and help to support the regeneration of the town centre.

“The main principle for the alterations at 8, Wind Street is to return this well known, vacant building back into an asset and to return the building to use in the current market.”