Food Warehouse plans for Riverside
BID TO CHANGE USE OF PART OF FORMER TOYS R US STORE
FURTHER plans to convert a former Toys R Us superstore in Nottingham have been submitted by another big-name retailer.
The Food Warehouse (TFW), is part of Iceland, expressed its interest in opening an outlet in the former toy superstore in Riverside Retail Park in September.
So far, Home Bargains and JD Sports have taken up two of the three vacant units at the building in Electric Avenue, and The Food Warehouse wants the last one.
The company has now submitted an application to change the use of the premises to Nottingham City Council.
A report by council planners says: “Retailers have been secured for two of the units and despite difficult trading conditions retail demand does exist from TFW (a trading arm of Iceland), seeking further representation for this store format in Nottingham.
“This confirmed demand for further representation in the local area demonstrates continued retail occupier confidence in Nottingham by Iceland as a retail destination.
“There is an existing out-of-centre TFW store at Lady Bay Retail Park to the south, together with smaller Iceland stores at West Bridgford, Carlton Hill and Nuthall Road.
“In addition to improving choice and competition to the benefit of shoppers in Nottingham (in an established retail destination), the proposal will also positively contribute to the local area through investment and the creation of jobs.
“It will also secure the long-term occupancy of existing retail floorspace that could otherwise remain vacant and make no positive economic contribution.”
Toys R Us closed its 100 stores in 2018 but has recently stepped back into the fray with both digital and physical retail sites because of the company’s success in Canada. It is now thought unlikely it will return to Riverside Retail Park, however.
The planners’ report adds: “The proposed store, when open, would generate full and part-time job opportunities (in the region of 20-25 jobs).
“Most of these jobs will be available to local people across a range of scales.
“Additional jobs will also be created as part of the store fit out, future maintenance, etc. In addition to job creation,
“TFW’S occupation of the existing floor-space would result in an investment in the local economy.”
Ryan Parsonage, on behalf of Iceland Foods Limited, said: “The stores have a warehouse-type look and feel with wide shopping aisles, polished concrete floors, no ceilings and exposed services.
“The business has 150 Food Warehouse stores trading across the country. The proposed store at Riverside Retail Park will build upon Iceland’s existing Food Warehouse stores, supplementing our existing store at Lady Bay Retail Park.
“We will be making a significant capital investment in this project, creating in the region of 20-25 new jobs across a range of roles.
“As is normally the case with retail positions, it is anticipated that the majority of these roles will be filled by local residents as is the case with their other stores across the country.”