Bid to transform former DIY store

A FORMER DIY store in Widnes is due to be transformed into a range of different units if proposals are given the anticipated green light.

Halton Borough Council’s development control committee have been recommended to grant planning permission for the B&Q store on Dennis Road.

The site closed last year for the final time.

Applicant Vistra Trust Corporation (UK) Limited is proposing to subdivide the former store into five units with different uses, including retail and leisure.

The existing store would be divided into four units, with a fifth created by redeveloping the garden centre part of the site.

Plans show the applicant wants ‘flexible’ permission to allow the site to be occupied for retail, leisure or a combination of both.

One representation was received following the plan being submitted and though no objection was raised, the party wished to know what shops would be moving into these units.

The plan said: “Unfortunately, no details are available.

“The purpose of the application is to obtain a more flexible planning permission to make it more attractive to the market in an endeavour to bring it back into use.”

It added: “The proposal undoubtedly has the potential to fill a qualitative gap in Widnes’s retail offer as the town does not have a conventional retail warehouse park since the closure and redevelopment of Ashley Way Retail Park.

“Given the lack of existing retail warehouse operators in Widnes, there is the possibility that the end users of this proposal will largely complement rather than complete with town centre traders and will ‘clawback’ Widnes expenditure currently leaking to retail parks elsewhere as assumed by the applicant.”

The proposals said the applicant ‘believes’ the former store ‘likely’ traded at £5.4m and that offers are unaware of any development plans which will be ‘deterred or delayed’ by the ex-site’s reconfiguration.

The plans have been recommended for approval subject to conditions at a meeting to take place on Monday, May 8.