New retail park plans approved

A huge retail development that will create more jobs in Brighouse and bring in millions of pounds of turnover will be built after plans were given the green light.
Dews Motor Group site, Bailiff Bridge.Dews Motor Group site, Bailiff Bridge.
Dews Motor Group site, Bailiff Bridge.

The development will see four shopping units built on the former Dews Motor Group site, on Bradford Road, and the current buildings demolished.

The project is being put forward by the Gregory Property Group who built the Broad Street Plaza 
complex in Halifax.

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The development will see a large unit with garden centre which would be located within the northern section of the site, with the three smaller units forming a terrace to the southern part of the site.

Vehicle access would be taken from Bradford Road and provision made for 99 parking spaces, including six number disabled parking spaces.

Miranda Steadman, senior planner from Colliers International who are planning agents for the Gregory Group said: “The proposed development will result in a net increase in employment opportunities as the proposed use of the site for four retail units will also seek new staff from the local catchment area for their stores.

“We have looked separately at the large unit and then the three smaller units. The large unit is expected to be a predominantly bulky goods discount retailer: full details are expected to be able to be disclosed after submission and further details to supplement this assessment will be provided. It is expected that it will be possible to define areas for sale of ancillary goods such as indoor and outdoor toys, camping goods and stationery, toiletries and or health and beauty consumable products, food/drink /confectionary sold at ambient temperature and clothing and or baby goods.”

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Planning officers from Calderdale Council who approved the scheme said the ‘anticipated turnover of the total scheme would be in the range of £9.49m and £12.28m’.

The report said: “The applicant sets out an anticipated impact on Brighouse town centre bulky good comparison shops of 12 per cent and 5.3% for all comparison goods. These figures are again based on the whole site coming forward for comparison goods which is highly unlikely. It is believed that this level of draw will have no “significant adverse impact” on Brighouse based on the positive change to Brighouse between 2009 and 2012. 
“Unit vacancies have fallen from 17.6% to 6.96% (compared to 11.46% nationally) and floorspace vacancy has fallen from 13% to 6.31% (compared to 9.29% nationally). Taking into account those comments from the Development Strategy manager it is considered that the proposal will not have an unacceptable effect on the vitality and viability of the nearby town centre.”

Letters of objection raised concerns that the proposed buildings would result in loss of views, road safety concerns and anti-social behaviour.

However, it was considered that the scale and appearance of the buildings would not be significantly oppressive or overbearing when viewed from the neighbouring houses. Conditions will also be put in place to prevent anti-social behaviour with a barrier being installed to prevent young drivers gathering in the car park with their vehicles.

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