Developers who plan to convert the former B&M store in Nantwich into apartments, said they are NOT creating a HMO for asylum seekers.
Suraj Gangani and Anshul Raja, of Apavi Group Holdings, bought the building on Swine Market in May.
It had stood empty for two years since B&M closed its store , with national companies like Wetherspoons, Peacocks and Poundland showing initial interest but declining to take it on.
Today, Mr Gangani and Mr Raja denied rumours on social media that the intention was to create large-scale, short stay accommodation to house asylum seekers arriving in the UK.
They also say they are in advanced talks with a well-known local organisation to take on the retail unit which would be at the front of the newly revamped building.
Last week, Nantwich Town councillors aired their concerns over the plan at a town council meeting.
But Mr Gangani told Nantwich News that their aim is to “modernise and futureproof” the building and not to turn it into a HMO.
“Applying for a HMO is a totally different planning process and application,” he said.
“We have never done one or own any. It’s not our bag for all the reasons people do not like them – usually low quality and do not enhance a town.”
The developers say they have already spent £200,000 on the unit, including structural repairs, asbestos removal and an extensive fit-out.
He added: “The former B&M unit had been empty for more than two years when we purchased it in May 2025.
“During that time the previous owners received no credible offers from the public of private sector to rent, buy or redevelop the property in its existing form, and the vacant building had become a liability for the town.
“Huge works were needed and there was no commercial appetite to do these works.
“We believed that there could be a way to bring the building back into use with a host of works if the commercial proposition was right.
“Our first priority was to make the ground-floor space commercially viable.
“We removed redundant stockrooms and offices and created a flexible unit, with the option to subdivide into three.
“Within the first six weeks of marketing we recorded four serious viewings and two firm offers. Proof that the redesign works.”
The plan includes 20 new apartments, on the rear ground-floor area and the upper storey, including eight compact one-bed flats for a single person, seven larger one-bed flats for two people, and five two-bed flats for three people.
Mr Gangani added: “All units meet or exceed national space standards and are aimed at local residents, especially first-time buyers.
“This is not an HMO application, and we have no intention of housing asylum seekers or operating large-scale short-stay accommodation.
“We don’t own any HMOs and have no plans to do so.
“Additionally, this scheme would be of no interest to those sorts of providers given the mix of units. It is not only commercially unviable but untrue.”
They say their plan would “remove a prominent empty building and the antisocial behaviour it attracts” and restore an active retail frontage on a main town centre street, as well as deliver much-needed town-centre housing.
The developers have written to town councillors to “address the misinformation in circulation”.
The plans can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website here.
It was a very poor re-development in the first place back in the 1960’s. It looks tatty, almost like the film set for Shameless. It has been poorly maintained over the years. It is not empathetic with the historical town of Nantwich. The plans for this building seem to lack any form of vision or inspiration. £200,000 sounds a lot of money, but surely some one must have some vision .The residents have paid a very heavy price for the incompetence of the Town Planners back in the 1960’s. The new paving is covered in food fat outside the Pizza / Burger outlet. There is nothing tasteful about its appearance. It sounds it is going to get worse. It is a failure by any stretch of imagination.
The Town Planners should have vision for the development and re-development of Nantwich with taste and empathetic design. Look at the building which was the Lamb Hotel in Hospital Street, a good example of what can be achieved. Well done Muller.
Is there not a duty of care to leave Nantwich in a better state of charm and design for future generations, making the Town an attractive Tourist destination for the future generations to come.
Will every one of these flats have natural light? Proper individual kitchens and bathrooms? Separate living rooms and bedrooms? In that case you couldn’t possibly fit twenty of them plus a retail space into the building, and if not then they are not good quality ‘flats’ and should not be allowed to be constructed. Away with this cheap and nasty nonsense.
How I miss Woolworths.
The developer may have nio intentions to attract migrants but when they sell it ?
Please do not allow this.
Clearly the owners are not used to the benefit of early press releases, as the announcement went down like a lead balloon with the council feeling an HMO was not desirable at such a scale. It’s a shame they are now having to explain the proposals so late in the day, one thing for sure is the idea people will buy them is way off the mark, they are ideal rentals provided they can work within the constraints of the RRB coming in next year, they will be brave if they do make it work.
I can’t see that this will bring anything but problems. It’s hardly a residential ideal with all the nightlife noise . In fact it is nonsense and even if it started all new and shiny it ain’t going to stay that way. It should be retail only . Is there something wringvwith our education that intelligence has gone missing?
When was the last time a developer even gave enough of a damn to give a response to our community? Never with our mates at Muller. No need for them to do this given some of the rhetoric online. Giod luck to them, not sure I would chance tthat sort of cash on that place.
Excellent news, let hope it works for our community it’s been an eyesore for a long period of time.
Much improved already, hopefully they will keep to the plan for local people to occupy the accommodations. Especially first time buyers.
The building would make a great night club or cinema…pub ….restraunt …
Social club …amusement arcade..
Small bowling ally .
Any sort of entertainment venue
But not flats no way flats not there!!
We are fast becoming a nation of lazy cynics, doubters and objectors. Part of the problem, never the solution. We don’t like change and even when the status quo is completely stale, we still resist.
This building sat empty for many years and we are still getting in the way of a company gambling hundreds of thousands of pounds on it. Wow. The mind boggles at our love of shooting ourselves in the foot.
Oh and Paul, we both know why you are still sceptical. And that is a you problem. I hope you get better.
Great response and hope it works out. Nantwich is on its knees, doing what Nantwich has always done and expecting a different outcome is the definition on insanity. Multi purpose is a great idea , good luck
Why am remaining a sceptic to their motives
Where is the natural daylight ie: windows in these apartments. It is not a suitable building to be converted. It must be a very cheap building to be purchased. Right decision has been made in not sanctioning planning permission.
I personally don’t believe a word of it.
The issue is the plans are not good enough, there is no vibe, it is a very dated concept, these apartments if for sale will not be attractive to buy as other schemes do, they are so much better,
In Stoke there is the newly finished Goods Yard restored to be apartments, furnished to rent but includes extras such as a gym, cafe, laundry, cini room ,resident lounge with brews on tap, co-working space with meeting rooms, and private dining room for hosting a feast.
The onsite team to make life easy, from putting on resident events, to sorting all your chores like cleaning and laundry.
Where it is more of a community feel than a block of soul free apartments
https://www.olloliving.co.uk/locations/goods-yard