The shape of things to come for Market Street (From Western Telegraph)

The shape of things to come for Market Street

THIS artist's impression shows what the corner of Haverfordwest's High Street and Market Street will look like in the future.

Redevelopment of the ill-fated Commerce House site will make an enormous difference to this part of town.

The building, which was declared unsafe, has been propped up by five miles of scaffolding for 18 months and businesses have suffered a sharp downturn in trade as the road has remained closed to traffic.

But now Haverfordwest county councillor and cabinet member, Cllr Peter Stock, said: "This redevelopment will certainly bring the heart right back to the top of the town and will greatly improve this area."

Work has started on making the party wall at Commerce House safe. It is estimated that this will take six weeks and once this is secure, contractors Cuddys can begin dismantling the building and the scaffolding will then come down.

Red Dragon Developments will than take over and plan to rebuild Commerce House to its original style. Development will continue round the corner, above the crypt area.

The result will be a series of town houses, some with roof gardens, shops and a cafe, which will have an outside seating area and which will also incorporate the crypt.

Said Cllr Stock: "The new road linking Dew Street with Barn Street will, we hope, take some of the traffic away from this part of town.

"We are also hoping next year to start on the sports and leisure complex off St Thomas Green and this will bring additional people to the area.

"It should all start happening for Market Street and the top of town, and I would like to see it have specialist shops, rather like Narberth."