Locals welcome new retail park on baths site ‘I DEFINITELY THINK IT ADDS
SOMETHING TO THE AREA’
VISITORS to a new retail park in Nottingham at the site of a former baths are “very happy” about the development.
A Lidl supermarket, Subway, Gregg’s and Costa Coffee drive-through have all opened, with the supermarket creating around 40 jobs.
The site has been transformed after formerly operating as Beechdale swimming baths.
Another store, Treetops, has also opened at the retail park on the corner of Beechdale Road and Western Boulevard.
The new shops are proving a hit with locals who say it has benefited the area since opening last month.
Gemma Sharp, 39, who was about to do her shopping in Lidl, said: “I think it’s great.
“This is actually the first time I’ve been. I definitely think it adds something to the area – there are so many different places here. It’s fantastic.
“It’s very handy to have this sort of thing here what with Christmas coming up. There seems to be plenty of parking spaces too, which is good – it’s not overly busy.”
David Hughes, 43, said: “I’m very happy it’s here.
“My only worry was about the traffic because it is always so busy around here, but it’s easy to spot and easy to get to. I’m surprised at how many different places they’ve got open here, actually.
“Hopefully it doesn’t get too busy on the weekends. I think it’s good for the area, definitely.”
Another shopper, who was getting a Costa coffee and wished to remain anonymous, said: “I live about a fiveminute walk from here, so it’s great for me to be able to come out and pick up a drink or do my shopping.
“Everyone seems to like it so far. I haven’t been in any of the other shops yet, but I’m sure I will.”
David Hargreaves – from FHP, the company which took on the site from Nottingham City Council – said: “With the well-documented problems facing retail and our city centres, it is testament to the strength of this retail location, the strength of Lidl as the anchor and the free car parking, that, despite the pandemic, no retailer pulled out, with the Costa Coffee drive-through and Subway opening on the same day as Lidl.
“It is easy to have a downer on the retail sector at present with all the gloomy news, but this type of retail scheme, surrounded by housing with 37,000 cars passing every day on the ring road, and Lidl and a Costa Coffee drive-through as anchors, will always trade well and be in demand from both retailers and investors alike.”