A new plan has been drawn up for a retail and leisure park on a patch of derelict former bus depot land in Plymouth, with the public now asked for their opinions.
Building consultancy Bailey Partnership has designed the at the former Western National bus depot site at Laira.
The proposal would see an 88-bed hotel, convenience store, “home supplies” retailer, drive-thru coffee shop and fast-food outlet, “sandwich shop” and a cycle hub created on the triangular patch of land boarded by Laira Bridge Road, Gdynia Way and Embankment Lane.
READ MORE: {}
Exeter-headquartered Goldmix Ltd, which acquired the site at auction in 2016, has brought in Plymouth-based Bailey Partnership to come up with the new scheme.
This envisages a “sustainable” development of a hotel, retail units and food and beverage outlets, alongside a cycle hub “which can be used to feed the local cycle network”.
The large non-food retail store has been subject to a Retail Impact and Sequential Test, whilst the other uses are considered to either be “small scale local retail” and compliant with the council’s policies.
COMMENT ON THIS PLANNING PROPOSAL
The site layout proposed aims to achieve a “safe, secure and welcoming environment” with active street frontages, and an appropriate scale, providing prominent site boundaries, clearly demarcated external space and “natural surveillance to the public realm”.
Most Read
Bailey Partnership said the concept is to create an environment whereby people wish to “stay and play” and has adopted a “landscape-led approach” designed with pedestrians in mind.
The plan has also been tailored to suit businesses which have been able to continue trading through the Covid-19 restrictions with the inclusion of outdoor eating and social areas seen as a future proofing measure, which has been welcomed by potential operators.
Discussions with potential occupiers have suggested that about 150 to 200 jobs will be created as a result of the proposed development, which does not include indirect employment during the design and construction process with longer-term opportunities through service contracts, ongoing maintenance and the supply chain.
Steve Demuth, partner of Bailey Partnership, said: “It is widely recognised that the former Western National Bus Depot site offers an exciting opportunity to develop a gateway project for Plymouth.
“Through a proactive working relationship with Plymouth City Council we have developed a scheme which in our opinion is aligned with the aspirations of the local planning authority and evolving operator requirements which have changed significantly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The former bus depot at Laira Bridge has been sitting empty for about 20 years since Western National relocated its operation to Billacombe Road in Plymstock.
Since then the site has been subject to various planning applications and a Compulsory Purchase Order to enable the formation of the Embankment Lane link road which has left a 3.7-acre triangle of land sandwiched between Gdynia Way, the A379 and the link road.
Don’t miss
Goldmix Ltd acquired the site in November 2016 at a national auction house and since then has attempted to bring the site forward.
In 2019, the land was subject to a previous planning application from developer Hilton Properties which wanted a Lidl supermarket, Home Bargains outlet, and large Marston’s pub and hotel on the land.
But in mid-2020 it was citing that it did not meet planning policies which required a high-quality design.
Meanwhile, a totally separate plan from another developer was drawn up in 2020 for a Travelodge with a Greggs bakery alongside a drive-through Costa Coffee and KFC on a triangle of open land near the ex-bus depot plot, between the River Plym and Embankment Lane.
But now Goldmix has employed experienced consultants from Bailey Partnership to provide architectural, town planning, development consultancy, project and cost management services, structural/civil and building services engineering on its new gateway scheme.
In the Plymouth and South Devon Joint Local Plan, the former bus depot was earmarked for a mixed-used development incorporating either a hotel or retail and leisure facilities.
It also stipulated a high-quality design befitting the gateway location, improved pedestrian connections, retail limited to meet the needs of the surrounding area, flood mitigation measures, access from Embankment Lane and investigation and remediation of contaminated land.
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: william.telford@reachplc.com - Phone: 01752 293116 - Mob: 07584 594052 - Twitter: - LinkedIn: - Facebook:
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion in the South West. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute. To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click .
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page
Javan Spencer, director at Hedgeland Property Consultants, marketing agent for the scheme, said: “The site was identified as having unfulfilled potential as previous schemes had failed to obtain a satisfactory and implemental planning consent.
“The Local Plan identifies the development opportunity here which we know a site with this roadside profile will fulfil having identified the right mix of occupiers.
“The proposals look to develop and adapt to an increasingly specialist market but with the added pressures of current market circumstances where a number of potential operators have been squeezed out. The success of the project is predicated on being able to develop a balanced, commercially viable and sustainable scheme.”
Under normal circumstances Bailey Partnership would be promoting a high-profile, community and public consultation event to present the scheme and discuss concerns or opportunities.
But because of Covid restrictions it has instead launched a bespoke consultation website . All comments received will be recorded, reviewed and considered prior to submitting the full planning application.