August 1, 2008
South Derbyshire District Council has given its green light for a major retail and leisure park in Swadlincote, Derbyshire by Barnard Castle-based Rokeby Developments.
The council last night (Tuesday) resolved to grant planning permission for Hepworth Retail and Leisure Park on the former Hepworth Works site adjacent to the town’s 74,000 sq ft Morrisons Supermarket. It is being developed by Rokeby Developments in partnership with Peveril Securities.
The proposals for the 3.6 ha former pipe works involve the regeneration of the brownfield site with a £20m mixed-use development. It comprises 9,758 m2 of non-food retail uses in four separate blocks arranged in a broad U shape. The 3,297 m2 leisure element includes a five-screen Curzon multiplex cinema, and food and drink outlets. The plans also include 36 new homes.
Deals with a number of retailers are currently in solicitors hands. The plans also include retention of the best of the former industrial buildings close to the northern boundary of the site.
South Derbyshire District Council chief executive Frank McArdle said: “These are exciting times. The developers have worked hard with the officers of the council to avoid a clone town scheme. It will be a major regeneration catalyst. It is the shot in the arm that the town has needed to transform it into a retail and leisure destination.
Rokeby Developments director Adrian Goodall said: “The scheme which will be a major boost for Swadlincote and swell the town’s attractions for shoppers. We hope we have addressed the concerns of local traders by improving our linkages with the town centre. We have also made a major financial commitment to preserving the best of the site’s industrial heritage of which the town is justly proud.”
Goodall, added: “We currently have a total of 250,000 sq ft of retail developments on site at present and remain confident about the retail market despite prevailing market conditions. The retail sector is still interested when it comes to good quality accommodation, in the right location, at the right rental levels.”
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For further information please contact Porterfield Public Relations Ltd, the commercial property and built environment specialist.
+44 (0)20 7647 4420
