Boots WILL join Marks and Spencer on new Scunthorpe retail park
BOOTS has been confirmed as the third major chain to sign up to the £25 million M&S retail park on the outskirts of Scunthorpe.
The pharmacy, health and beauty firm will open a 10,000 sq ft store at the park, to be developed by Simons Developments Ltd.
It will join M&S and Debenhams in the development, planned for the site of the Stephen Smith's Garden Centre on Doncaster Road.
The go-ahead for the project was given by a judge after a judicial review into North Lincolnshire Council's decision to grant planning permission for it.
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Fierce opposition had been raised to the park in some quarters, with objections surrounding its impact on the town centre, as well as traffic and environmental concerns.
The go-ahead comes after a protracted saga that had already seen the development approved twice by planners before a legal challenge was lodged on behalf of The Foundry Shopping Centre.
After Mr Justice Hickinbottom's decision, Chris Newsome, development director at Simons, confirmed a deal had been signed with Boots. And he said the firm's High Street store would also remain open as part of the plan.
He said: "They are under contract. It shows again the belief in Scunthorpe, both in the town centre and our proposal.
"Boots is obviously a very high-quality brand and we are delighted they will be in both the town centre and our scheme."
The retail park is expected to create around 300 jobs and represents an investment of up to £25 million.
Mr Newsome said he hoped work on the site would begin as soon as possible and said he aimed for it to be open by summer 2014.
And he said discussions were continuing over the letting of the fourth and final retail unit at the park. He said: "We are in conversations and we have three of the four units let, which is very encouraging for a scheme before it starts on site."
The Telegraph has previously been given to understand that fashion store River Island was also likely to join the retail park.
Mr Newsome said he was delighted with the judge's decision and believed it was the final barrier to the development going ahead. He said: "It is great news and where else in the country is something like this happening? Nowhere.
"We have to grasp it, for one reason from a commercial point of view and more importantly, for the jobs and regeneration."
Boots was unable to comment.
SEE RELATED ARTICLES ABOVE RIGHT - Challenge was dismissed AND Let's do all we can to help traders
Comments
by rover25
Saturday, December 29 2012, 11:33PM
“glad the scheme got passed otherwise we would be in cloud cuckoo land,nite x”
by longjohn48
Saturday, December 29 2012, 8:55PM
“"Potential to create 300 jobs" PIE IN THE SKY /CLOUD CUCKOO LAND comes to mind”
by leonidas
Saturday, December 29 2012, 11:14AM
“this project is great news for the area, money, jobs etc etc, sure there might be a few problems, traffic, disruptions etc but lets face it we dont live in a perfect world and all the whingers wont be able to crawl out and act smug like they could do better, blah blah blah, rant over, viva la scunny”
by Pizik
Friday, December 28 2012, 9:04PM
“@ Buffering: I am with you on that one.
It will be a haven for depressed couples being led around looking at **** they won't buy on a saturday afternoon. Funny that my life online is actually more entertaining. Why people go shopping and not buy stuff is entirely beyond my understanding.
Anywho, I don't have a car but do believe in market forces and the ****** state of the town centre. I will not be a customer but fairplay to those who want to waste their weekends down there.”
by buffering
Friday, December 28 2012, 8:50PM
“Fantastic news, I mean, I have to shop at Boots on a daily basis, just like I have to go to the toy shop, DIY store and supermarket as often as possible!!!
Jesus wept, some of you folk must have some really weird shopping habits if you need to visit a retail park on a weekly basis. Personally speaking, I can't remember the last time that I needed to go and feel the latest offerings of carpet underlay, get excited in the power tools aisle or check out the latest line in fridges or washing machines.
Oh well, each to their own.”
by dellboy1959
Friday, December 28 2012, 5:43PM
“@ ewbfchamp,
I know exactly what you mean,Edmonton Alberta springs to mind.
It even has a full size indoor fun fair with rides that make this countries look tame even to this day lol.”
by Hazzers
Friday, December 28 2012, 4:25PM
“That fact that Boots was moving there was common knowledge, it seems the Telegraph have made a headline ny merely confirming what we already knew.”
by englander61
Friday, December 28 2012, 4:09PM
“Good news , will not have to go to grubby town center at all now , free parking clean toilets , down side is bad traffic problems mainly caused by bad planning of council planners who are out of touch with the real world subways road crossing bridges , They are suppose to help traffic flow easier not hamper the flow other towns have done this why are we still in dark ages , Bus lane to no where hailed as huge success get real time to pay of these professionals and bring in some new blood more qualified to do job .”
by ewbfchamp
Friday, December 28 2012, 2:34PM
“I think these "malls" are the thing of the future whether people like them or not. The first time I went to Canada was in 1970 and they had them there then !”
by miss_frosty1
Friday, December 28 2012, 2:25PM
“This is fantastic news, I can't wait for it to all be up and running. Will save me loads in fuel as I won't need to drive to the likes of Meadowhall etc. More good news is that it will provide jobs for local people.”