Barker and Stonehouse plans for a new flagship store will be considered by Stockton Council's planning committee for Barker and Stonehouse
Ambitious plans to transform an eyesore site on Teesside Retail Park have been recommended for approval.
As reported, furniture retailers Barker and Stonehouse want to invest £4.5m in a new flagship store and office on the former site of Springs health club.
The plans will be considered by Stockton Council's planning committee when it meets next week.
Officers have recommended that the scheme be passed, with conditions.
The gateway site has been the focus of several failed regeneration attempts in recent years, including most recently in 2011 an application to build a Travelodge, Harvester pub and Nandos restaurant.
The scheme, by Athenaeum Developments, would have created more than 60 much needed jobs.
But to the anger of Thornaby councillors the application was rejected after planning officers raised “significant concerns” the development could impact on the council’s multi-million-pound regeneration of Stockton town centre.
A planning inspector later upheld the decision after the developers appealed.
A report to the planning committee said the impact of the new Barker and Stonehouse store on Stockton and Middlesbrough’s retail centres has again been considered.
But the report added: “The impacts are considered to be insufficient to warrant refusal of the scheme on these grounds.”
Barker and Stonehouse, founded in Stockton in 1946, wants to demolish the derelict Springs building and construct a 4,827m2 store at the site, which has been vacant since February 2007.
If this application is given the green light next week, work is intended to start in June and the store would open early 2015.
James Barker, managing director of Barker and Stonehouse, said: “The site provides an excellent location for our new store, allowing us to raise the bar and design a top quality, uniquely inspiring environment that customers will really enjoy visiting.”
He added that the new store would create “significant work for local firms” – from design, build and fit out to additional roles in store.
Stockton South MP James Wharton has called on Stockton Council to back the plans, saying the local economy needs the jobs and investment.
James said: “Springs is right at the entrance to Teesside Park and has become a real eyesore.
“I thought it was a mistake to turn down previous proposals which would have brought it back into use and I hope that mistake will not be repeated.”
Thornaby Town Council are also fully supportive of the application.
The plans will be considered at a meeting of Stockton Council’s planning committee on Wednesday at Stockton Central Library.
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