DIY bosses calm fears over £6.5m warehouse sale
BOSSES at DIY chain B&Q have moved to reassure the town after plans were revealed to sell the warehouse site for more than £6.5 million.
Aviva Life and Pensions UK Limited, which own the Statham Street plot, is marketing the 2.4 acre site through retail consultants Wilkinson Williams, and has identified it as a potential housing development.
However, B&Q, which has eight years left on the lease of the 36,000 sq ft unit, says it has no plans to leave the town.
A spokesperson for B&Q, which recently spent £250,000 refurbishing the warehouse, said: “We have a significant amount of time left on our lease at B&Q Macclesfield and this sale will not have any impact on our site.
“We look forward to serving our customers in Macclesfield for many years to come.”
Marketing documents claim if B&Q didn’t want to renew its £500,000 per year lease, the unit is the perfect size and location for other retailers not currently in the town including supermarket Waitrose and retailers Dunelm and The Range.
It adds that it also has the potential to be devel- oped for housing.
The document states: “Retail warehousing in Macclesfield is limited, and is focused within three main areas, including where the subject property is located.
“The lack of retail warehousing in the town results in many national retailers not being represented here, including Dunelm, The Range, Argos and TK Maxx. The acquisitive food retailers, including Waitrose and Lidl, also do not have stores in the town.
“The site totals 2.4 acres, equating to a low site cover of 33pc. The site has the potential to be developed for housing in the future and there is residential surrounding the site.
“However, we do not foresee B&Q wishing to vacate from their unit.”
Readers shared differing views via the Express Facebook page.
Alexander Lawton Truswell backed the plan for housing, adding: “B&Q should be moved to Lyme Green then mews houses and nice apartments build on the site, same for Halfords.”
Christine Bagshaw suggested the site could house the new cinema, while John Bennett floated the idea of turning the site into a ‘park and ride’ for the town centre.
Amanda Pickles hopes B&Q will stay around, adding: “They can’t close yet another popular shop.”