Planned retail site 'will pump £1m a year into economy'
A PLANNED £14 million "out of town" shopping centre would pump nearly £1million into the city's economy each year and create up to 90 jobs, developers say.
Two companies, working together, have submitted plans for a huge retail site selling "bulky goods" at Marsh Mills.
They want to demolish the Legacy International Hotel and build the shopping park, saying it will create an enormous boost for the city's economy.
The Herald revealed the proposal last November, but now plans have been submitted to Plymouth City Council, and have been amended after talks with residents neighbouring the site, and city businesses.
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And the developers, Development Securities (Marsh Mills) Ltd, working in a joint venture with Wessex Investors, which owns the hotel, have revealed more details of the financial boon they say it will bring to Plymouth.
The firms estimate building the retail park will cost £14.2million, and then pump £928,393 into the Plymouth economy each year.
This is nearly £700,000 a year more than currently generated by the hotel.
The project would also create an estimated 142 construction jobs, with 51 people working in the stores, once built.
This could raise to 88 full-time jobs if mezzanine's in the units are developed by shop tenants too.
And there are likely to be part-time jobs created as well.
The hotel employs 22 people.
The companies say Plymouth businesses have welcomed the proposal, which would create a "highly visible gateway" to the city, being adjacent to the A38.
The firms said their consultation concluded the development would have minimal impact on city centre shops, and other proposed developments.
The plan is to build four large retail units with a combined 7,900sq metre of floorspace, and a 712sq metre restaurant, on the 2.1-hectare site.
The plans also include 308 parking spaces, 40 cycles spaces, in a car park which will be shut at night.
Access would be via the current hotel slip road and the proposal includes investment in the traffic management system at the Marsh Mills roundabout to improve traffic flow.
The developers have improved the design, they say, and plan to use a "semi-transparent cladding" to allow natural light to penetrate the buildings, and during the nighttime the facades will give an impression of "glowing boxes".
They are also proposing to screen the site from neighbouring houses, and boost security.
Lucie Brailsford, the project's communications manager, said: "This is a highly visible and attractive site, making it extremely desirable to new 'non centre' retailers that wish to come to the city.
"The existing hotel on site has reached the end of its economic life and, in light of significant hotel provision elsewhere in the city, investment in this business is not viable.
"Our intention has been to design landmark retail space that is worthy of the site's prominent location and is suitable for retail uses that do not conflict with Plymouth's city vision and its focus on the vitality and viability of the city centre.
"Developing the site in this way and attracting new retail investment to Plymouth will assist the city to fulfil its aspiration to become the economic hub of the far South West and the leading retail centre for the sub-region.
"Feedback from the business community regarding the suitability and attractiveness of the site for investment in the city has been very positive and we have also found the input of residents useful.
"We are delighted to have been able to incorporate the majority of residents' suggestions for improvements to the site layout in the final version of the scheme."
Comments
by Kazziles
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 9:54AM
“What a huge joke this development idea is. This is going to be another white elephant. Retails space for bulky goods. Go to the existing retail park in this area on anyone day and you will see premises with no customers in them. People shop more online now than ever before.
Lucie Brailsford, the project's communications manager says [quote] "This is a highly visible and attractive site, making it extremely desirable to new 'non centre' retailers that wish to come to the city".[unqote]. Are bulky goods like furniture, fridge/freezers, T.V's etc? Well there are thousands of square footage of retail floor space lying empty in and around Plymouth City center. If retailers needed space, wouldn't they use these empty premises. Comet closed down a couple of months ago in the Coy Pool a 2 minute walk from this proposed development. Why did they close down, they sold bulky goods??? The empty retail premises scattered around Plymouth area need to be refurbished and get tenants in before creating another "empty" building. The city center is starting to looking like an ugly ghost town. I don't go into the town center anymore as it is so depressing.
Lucie Brailsford, the project's communications manager says [quote] ""Developing the site in this way and attracting new retail investment to Plymouth will assist the city to fulfil its aspiration to become the economic hub of the far South West and the leading retail centre for the sub-region.".[unqote]. Who on earth is she trying to kid! Plymouth the economic hub from a new building, what a joke! Plymouth is the 2nd largest city in the South West and it doesn't even have an airport anymore!! What business man/woman would want to invest in a large "economic hub" with no airport, an unreliable rail travel timetable and an area full of empty run down buildings/shops.
The Plymouth City Council need to think seriously before passing this application. Why not attract investors who will do up these empty retail spaces in and around Plymouth before building another what will be a white elephant within a year. Fixing things that are run down will be a lot cheaper and better for our environment than building new.
The traffic around the Marsh Mills round about is most the times a horrid area to drive creating more traffic is from someone who has no idea of what they are talking about. Recently all the shrubbery around the premisses and the round-about has been chopped down to the ground. Thanks for destroying birds nesting areas right in the middle of bredding season!!! Chopping all this down ain't going to stop the traffic. In fact if anything it may cause more accidents as now drivers can view all over the place, they will be trying to see if they can see other drivers they know instead of concentrating on the road.
The developers also plan to tear up all the greenery including trees that have been there for over 30 years just to go and lay concrete and tarmac down. Shame on you!!
I have heard that the local residents were mainly talked down every time they tried to raise concerns. The residents do not agree to this going up as there are far too many cons and not enough pros that come with this redevelopment. Not enough time has been given to consult everyone involved.
Sounds that nothing has been thought out and it is a bunch of opportunist's trying to make a quick buck.”
by timplymouth
Saturday, January 12 2013, 10:16PM
“I too am concerned about any increase in traffic around the Marsh Mills roundabout. The traffic queueing for Sainsburys regularly blocks other traffic on the roundabout. Improvements need to be made to get Sainsburys traffic off the roundabout sooner before any new retail units are created.”
by jannersontour
Saturday, January 12 2013, 1:48PM
“Bulky goods? Rather like the fridge, washing machine and such the majority now order on-line.
Good night city centre.
"And there are likely to be part-time jobs created as well." Wow hows about chiping in another 14 million and creating a first 11.
brown envelopes.”
by BrushyB
Saturday, January 12 2013, 12:15PM
“Yet anoher load of rubbish sprouted by Developers. Where do they suggest that the £928,393 will come from . It certainly wont be from the 51 new jobs created ,they will probably be part time anyway , it will simply be taken from existing premises.”
by firefly22
Saturday, January 12 2013, 11:52AM
“this is a foolish idea, it will Be another nail in the coffin of the city centre, planners must stop greedy developers serving them selves without consideration to PLYMOUTH GREATER NEEDS”
by Foldart
Saturday, January 12 2013, 9:55AM
“Mmm... I have reservations about the proximity to the Marsh Mills gyratory system. It's bad at the moment. Any new, large scale development there that attracts more traffic can only make it worse.
Isn't there anywhere else? Where access and parking wouldn't be restricted?
'Bulky goods'? Is this a new venture to satisfy the increasingly obese population?”