Transformation plan for car dealer site to go on show

Move from city centre will be ‘emotional wrench’

Designs for the redevelopment of the Barretts Jaguar site in Canterbury will go on public show in the dealership today (Thursday).

They have been drawn up following the company’s announcement that it is leaving its city centre home in St Peter’s Street after more than 100 years.

It is proposing to create a mix of housing, with retail still fronting St Peter’s Street.

Barretts boss Paul Barrett has admitted it will be an “emotional wrench” to leave the city centre, where his great-grandfather first started selling bicycles in 1904.

But the company’s hand has been forced by the demand from Jaguar Land Rover to have the two brands on one site. It means Barretts will be expanding its existing Land Rover site in Broad Oak Road to create a new Jaguar showroom and company offices.

Planning consultant Mike Goddard said: “The exhibition will explain the company’s history in St Peter’s Street and the steps it must now take to meet the needs of its customers and the manufacturers.

“There will be an explanation of the proposed uses planned for the new buildings, and visitors will be able to discuss the proposals with members of the team, prior to a planning application being submitted in the new year.”

The exhibition will run from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

The proposed frontage of Barretts in St Peter’s Street is not significantly different