Home Bargains and gym plan for Peel Centre unit
JONATHAN GRIEVE
DETAILED plans for a new Home Bargains store at the Peel Centre have been lodged.
Earlier this year, Hyndburn Council’s planning committee approved an application by Peel Centre bosses to vary a Section 106 agreement only allowing the sale of bulky goods at the retail park near Whitebirk.
That paved the way for Home Bargains to take over part of the old MFI store, which has been vacant for several years.
And now a full planning application has been submitted to the council, revealing the scale of the proposals. Owners of Home Bargains, TJ Morris Ltd, have bought the unit and will split the site in two with one unit to be operated by Home Bargains, and another to be taken on by a national gym chain.
Tim Bird, director of planning consultants Quod, said: “TJM has acquired the freehold of the site. Unit 1A is intended by be occupied by the national retailer Home Bargains.
“Unit 1B is intended to be occupied by a national gym operator.
“Draft heads of terms are being discussed with the gym operator to trade alongside Home Bargains, but we are not in a position to identify the prospective occupier at this stage.
“The occupation of the units depends on the success of this planning application.
“This application seeks permission for the external changes to units 1A and 1B along with changes to the car park and servicing arrangements.
“The refurbishment works are required to modernise the site and provide two units that are attractive to prevailing operational needs.
“The proposed refurbishment will transform the site by providing two modern units that align with modern standards.
“The proposed external changes and the subsequent alterations to the car park and wider site are critical to ensure that Home Bargains and the gym operator can operate successfully from the site.
“Without these proposed changes, the units will remain vacant.”
When the application to vary the section 106 agreement was approved, councillors heard as many as 30 new jobs could be created at the store.
Councillor Dave Parkins said: “I’m glad to see this is going to be redeveloped because it has been a mess for years.
“It’s great Peel Holdings has taken the bull by the horns. Over the last few years, the park has been greatly improved and the old MFI is an eyesore so I welcome this and hopefully the site will come together and look a lot better than it has in the past.”
Coun Paddy Short added: “As local councillors we want business, we want jobs and we want business rates so this is a no-brainer.
“It’s a good project and good luck to them.”