Pembrokeshire Council to lease former Wilko's store to major high street retailer

Pembrokeshire County Council chiefs are expected to approve a lease for a “major high street retailer” at the vacant former Wilko’s store in Haverfordwest’s Riverside - with Primark linked to the premises.

The special extraordinary meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet is to be held on Friday, October 16.

There’s one item on the agenda for that meeting, the redevelopment and a lease proposal for “a major high street retailer” to occupy the former Wilko’s site at Unit 1/2-6 Old Bridge, Haverfordwest.

Local speculation has previously focused on budget clothes retailer Primark occupying the site, but no announcement has been made.

The site is part of the Riverside Shopping Centre estate, acquired by Pembrokeshire County Council in November, 2020.

It was home to the town’s Wilko store until the retailer closed it in 2023 after its parent company went into administration.

A report for members ahead of that meeting says: “Upon the building being returned to the council, it became apparent that it was in a poor state of repair. The deteriorating roof, ageing building fabric and outdated internal layout limited its suitability for modern retail, commercial or community uses without substantial investment.

“The council was also unable to fully recover dilapidation costs due to Wilko’s insolvency.

“Since becoming vacant, the property has represented one of the most significant empty commercial units in the county town.

“Recognising its strategic importance, the council has pursued proposals to refurbish and repurpose the building to secure a new occupier, increase town centre footfall, generate rental income, increase employment opportunity and support the wider regeneration of Haverfordwest.”

Surveys in 2026 found the building was “in a significantly poorer condition than originally anticipated”, prompting a bigger refurbishment programme, the report says.

It adds: “In advance of progressing refurbishment works, the premises were marketed through a commercial property agent to test market interest and identify potential occupiers.

“This generated enquiries from a number of national retailers.”

A lease offer from “a major high street retailer” is considered to “provide best value to the council, both in terms of rental income and the wider economic benefits associated with securing a nationally recognised occupier within the town centre”, the report says.

The proposed lease has been approved by the would-be tenant’s board, with approval valid until October 31, but refurbishment cannot start until the Agreement for Lease is completed.

Options include doing nothing, which would mean ongoing “reactive maintenance and management costs” and “a missed opportunity to support the regeneration of Haverfordwest town centre and Riverside Shopping Centre”.

It also says £47,000 is currently projected in this financial year to be used from the council’s “Riverside reserve to support the increased costs incurred as a result of Unit 1 being vacant”.

The recommended option is to let the unit to the unnamed retailer.

The report says: “The proposal will support the ongoing regeneration of Haverfordwest town centre by securing a major high street retailer for a prominent vacant unit, bringing a building currently in poor condition back into beneficial economic use, increasing footfall and visitor activity within the town centre, and generating a revenue surplus for the Riverside Shopping Centre Reserve.”