MULTI-MILLION pound plans to redevelop a longstanding vacant site on the edge of Chester-le-Street town centre have been unveiled.
Developer Imopro SA is seeking to develop the site at Pelton Fell Road, Chester-le-Street, for retail operator B&M.
It has appointed the Newcastle office of national planning and development consultancy Lichfields to take forward the plans, and the development team is holding a public consultation event later this month.
The development, to be located to the west of the existing Tesco supermarket and the railway viaduct, would include a new B&M Home Store of 1,858 sqm floorspace.
It will also feature 67 parking spaces, hard and soft landscaping, and separate accesses from Pelton Fell Road for customer and service vehicles.
Daniel Gregg, Senior Planner at Lichfields, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to develop this vacant eyesore site on the edge of the town centre.”
“B&M has an existing store on Front Street in Chester-le-Street, but this can only accommodate a limited selection of their product range, whereas the proposed new store would contain a broader range of goods including DIY/home improvement, household and other bulky goods.”
“This scheme will enhance the choice of retail facilities available to residents of Chester le Street and help to reduce the need to travel elsewhere in the region.”
It would create around 40 full and part time job opportunities for local people. The new Home Store would be in addition to B&M’s presence in Chester-le-Street town centre.
The public exhibition is being held on Thursday January 17, at Chester-le- Street Community Centre, Newcastle Road, between 3pm and 7pm.
Leaflets have been sent out to local residents in Chester-le-Street and forms will also be provided at the public exhibition for members of the public to provide their views on the proposals. Any comments need to be made to the developers by Friday 25 January 2019.