Demolition approved for tired Friars Park retail unit
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved plans to demolish the long-empty retail unit at Friars Park and to redevelop the adjoining car park as part of a wider effort to regenerate a key area of Carmarthen town centre.
The proposal, described by the authority as the next stage in reviving the prominent site, carries an estimated price tag of £2.5 million. The project will be funded in full by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme, so there will be no direct cost to the county council.
Why demolition was favoured
Council officers concluded that bringing the retail building back into usable condition would be costly. An assessment found refurbishment would have required around £1 million of work, largely to address significant roof repairs, and that the structure had now reached the end of its usable life. The authority already owns the site freehold and acquired the leasehold interest in the former supermarket building in 2024.
What the scheme includes and local impacts
The redevelopment will cover the retail unit and the adjoining car park, which provides about 250 spaces and, according to the council, no longer meets modern standards or the expectations of users. Officers say businesses in neighbouring Merlin’s Walk will be kept informed as plans advance and that careful management will be necessary to limit disruption to traders, residents and motorists.
- Site: Former Wilko store at Friars Park, Carmarthen
- Car park spaces: Approximately 250
- Estimated cost: £2.5 million (Welsh Government-funded)
- Previous occupants: Wilko (closed 2023); before that Tesco
“Cabinet’s decision to approve the redevelopment of the Friars Park site is an important first step in creating a more attractive town centre asset which meets modern needs,”
The Cabinet member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism set out the council’s view that the scheme is intended to deliver a more attractive and fit-for-purpose town-centre asset. A formal Notice of Demolition will be submitted in the coming days, the council said.
Timetable and next steps
While the demolition decision was approved, the council has not yet finalised any formal agreements with prospective users of the site. Officers are continuing discussions with interested parties about future uses, and further details — including the redevelopment timetable — are still to be confirmed.
Local traders have been told they will be kept informed as the project moves forward. Councillors acknowledged the need for careful management of the work to minimise disruption to businesses, residents and people who currently rely on the car park.
Local context and background
The empty store has stood vacant since Wilko ceased trading in Carmarthen in 2023. Before Wilko, the premises were occupied by Tesco, which relocated to its current site beside Carmarthen Park in 2006. The Friars Park location occupies a prominent position in the town centre and the council’s intervention is aimed at preventing the site becoming a long-term eyesore and barrier to footfall.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated project cost | £2.5 million (Welsh Government-funded) |
| Car park capacity | Approximately 250 spaces |
| Previous occupants | Wilko (closed 2023); earlier Tesco |
For Carmarthen residents the scheme raises immediate questions about parking provision, access during works and the long-term use of a central town site. The authority’s message is that the council will work to keep disruption to a minimum while it pursues a development that officials hope will better meet the needs of the town in coming years.
Further announcements on planning details, contractor appointments and a timetable for demolition and rebuilding are expected as the council progresses the scheme with its funders and potential occupiers.
