Developers plan industrial park

The developers behind a shopping complex on the outskirts of Blenheim are seeking to develop an industrial precinct.

Westwood’s developers have applied for a resource consent from the Marlborough District Council to subdivide ‘‘five industrial lots, road and drainage lots’’.

Outer Limits director Phil Robinson said that while the application was to create five big industrial lots, the first priority was creating road access in and out of the north end of Westwood Business Park.

‘‘We are getting all of that roading network in place and all of the services, and then there will be further subdivision in the future for the smaller industrial lots,’’ Robinson said.

‘‘Until we get our tenant mix established, we do not know all of the sizes but there will be a mixture of larger and smaller lots.’’

He said it would mainly consist of warehouses for industrial use.

The Westwood Business Park site is home to Pak ’n Save, Bunnings Warehouse, Catalyst Eatery, Farmlands and PGG Wrightson/fruitfed Supplies.

In the initial stages of the development, more than 500 people signed up to a Facebook page dubbed ‘‘Bring KMART to Blenheim’’.

When Kmart opened in April 2019, keen shoppers even waited outside to be the first in the new store.

While Robinson said there were not any more retail stores planned for the development, a post on social media site Neighbourly showed strong support for a Spotlight, a business which specialises in sewing, crafts and DIY.

‘‘Lincrafts or Spotlight are desperately needed here in Blenheim,’’ one user said.

‘‘Thirty plus years ago we had several shops that sold materials and haberdashery. Hard to get the basics at times in Blenheim now.’’

Blenheim resident Lisa Blaker, who said she always did her supermarket shopping at Pak ’n Save, said she supported the expansion.

‘‘It was always inevitable this space was going to spread,’’ Blaker said.

‘‘I am originally from Auckland – when my friends visit they want things to all be in one place.

‘‘I particularly like the Pak ’n Save, it is where I do my shopping every time,’’ she said.

Rai Valley resident Brian

Turner said he always came to the Pak ’n Save to do his shopping.

‘‘The more shops, the more employment opportunities there are,’’ he said.

His daughter, Selene Turner, said she liked that the development was a ‘‘nice and fresh’’ space in Blenheim.

The parking was a bonus too, the Nelson woman said.

Marlborough Sounds resident Paddy Ryall said he supported more development.

‘‘We come in every two to three weeks to go to the Pak ’n Save,’’ Ryall said.