A large M&S Foodhall and an Aldi supermarket are expected to anchor a planned £18m district shopping centre on a disused former Royal Marines barracks in Plymouth.
Plymouth City Council said the two “big name brands” have signed to be tenants at the former Seaton Barracks land, one of the last undeveloped plots within Plymouth International Medical & Technology Park.
The M&S Foodhall will be double the size of the existing Simply Food store at its current premises next to Windsor House, on the opposite side of the A386 Tavistock Road. This store will close and staff will be relocated to the new outlet, which is twice the size.
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In total the district shopping centre project will deliver:
1,850sq m (20,000sq ft) M&S Foodhall
1,900sq m Aldi supermarket
A café and drive-thru...
...with a 1,100sq m (12,000s ft) gym above
two smaller retail units
12 electric vehicle charging points
A new bus, cycle and pedestrian route helping to better connect the Tavistock Road/William Prance Road junction with Derriford hospital
An east-west pedestrian and cycle route along the site’s northern boundary.
The completed development, if it gets planning consent, is expected to create more than 100 full-time jobs as well as safeguard a further 57 full-time jobs from the existing M&S store.
Council leader Nick Kelly (Conservative) has signed a business case giving the go-ahead to a forward funding agreement of £17.86m to facilitate the development through the council’s Property and Regeneration Fund.
The proposed development builds on the work of the council in securing the £25m Range Head Office and superstore for the site, which opened in early 2019. It is also estimated that 120 construction jobs will be generated during the development phase. The consultant team also includes a number of local firms, including Hoare Lea and Airey & Coles, both based in Plymouth.
The delivery of a new district centre for Derriford is a key strategic objective for the council, with the former barracks site designated as the preferred site for the district centre in the Joint Local Plan adopted in March 2019.
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At one time , which the council inherited when the South West Regional Development Agency was wound up, but in February 2017 ditched its plans.
Terms have already been agreed with both M&S and Aldi to enter into a lease once their new premises have been built and discussions are advanced with companies looking to take the café unit and the gym.
The development will be built by ADC Kimberley Ltd, which was selected as the council’s preferred developer in October 2019 following a competitive bidding process.
And they will be holding an online consultation which starts on November 1 ahead of a full planning application being submitted later this year. The survey closes on Wednesday, November 17.
Jonathan Banham, director of ADC Kimberley Ltd, said: “These proposals will breathe new life into the former Seaton Barracks parade ground and create a new retail and leisure hub for people living, working and studying in the local area.
“Over the years, the surrounding area has seen significant growth, particularly in terms of new housing development, as well as the continued importance of Derriford Hospital.
“The area also continues to be home to a number of major employers, with a new flagship headquarters for The Range recently developed.
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“The site forms one of the last remaining vacant development opportunities in the area and the creation of local shopping facilities will reduce the need for people to travel further afield.”
A property director spokesperson for Aldi said: “We have been searching for a site in the Derriford area for some time as we know our customers are currently travelling some way to our other stores.
“We are delighted that the Old Barracks site has become available, and we look forward to being able to provide easier access to our great value, award-winning range.”
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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.
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Theresa Furnish, M&S regional manager, said: “We’re really excited about these plans to relocate from our existing Simply Food store to a larger, new-design M&S Foodhall. The new store will be twice the size of our existing store and will allow us to offer a much wider range of M&S Food products, as well as a full click-and-collect service for Clothing & Home shopping. These plans mark a significant investment in the local area and will ensure local customers are getting the very best of M&S.”
Cllr Kelly said: “I am incredibly happy about this development. It amplifies our message that Plymouth is open for business and we welcome new investment into our city. We earmarked this site for a district centre and by investing in developing the site, we are not only attracting companies who offer good job prospects for Plymouth people, it also gives us a long term revenue income which helps reduce the burden on the council tax payer and helps protect core services.”