Surprising location for new Greggs in Hereford

Hereford is to get a new Greggs bakery shop on The Straight Mile, Rotherwas.

It will be in Phantom House, a two-storey office building previously occupied by radio products supplier Kinetic 6.

Until 2016, when it was known as Faculty House, it housed the showroom of food equipment maker Carpigiani, now relocated in Rotherwas.

Greggs sought a certificate of lawful development covering its planned new use for the building, avoiding the need to apply for full planning permission for the change.

A letter to Herefordshire Council from the company’s agent stressed that it would be essentially a shop rather than a takeaway hot food restaurant, so would remain in the same “use class” for planning purposes.

The certificate has now been granted, with planning officer Simon Rowles judging that “comprehensive justification” for it had been provided, and that the proposed change would be lawful.

Believed to be the UK’s biggest bakery chain, Greggs has over 2,000 outlets around the country, including in Broad Street and Commercial street in central Hereford.