Home Bargains Speke megastore approved

A scheme by retail group TJ Morris to develop a large Home Bargains and garden centre has been approved by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee.

The discount retailer, working with planning consultancy Quod, submitted a hybrid application, going for full consent on the western half of the 11-acre former Rayware site on the northern side of Speke Boulevard. It intends to build a 26,000 sq ft flagship Home Bargains store, complete with garden centre, along with a 27,500 sq ft retail unit – which could be subdivided into three stores – and a 1,850 sq ft restaurant/leisure unit.

The scheme necessitates the demolition of the Booth House office block and includes a new access point from Evans Road.

Outline consent was approved for the eastern part of the site, where up to 97,000 sq ft of industrial or distribution space could be built out.

The site sits to the south of the Venture Point industrial park and is recognised in the Unitary Development Plan as a primarily industrial area. Because it is not allocated as a site for large-scale out of town retail in the local development plan, it must be referred to the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities & Local Government.

The officers’ report stated that the benefits of the scheme, namely 100 jobs, dealing with a problem site, and £25m investment in the local area, outweigh the negative impacts and accepts the applicant’s claim that the retail element is necessary to make the industrial part workable.

Objections to the scheme have been received from a local councillor, referencing traffic congestion; local businesses questioning the suggested impact of the new store, and competitors B&M Retail – which has submitted three letters – and Asda, each citing the adverse impact on existing retail centres.

Rayware Site

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Can you hurry up as we’re sick of travelling out of speke all the time to get to one put an aldi store or lid next to it too .

By Tony

Can’t wait it will be fantastic and just what Speke needs.

By paige

Excellent news! Bring on the salt n vinegar space raiders and all the other stuff I love….. Joking aside – watch out Dobbies! They are coming for you!

By Bob Dawson

I have noticed the old Metalbox Factory has been knocked down now, it will be really good to have a store in Speke.

By Marian Humphries

brilliant news jobs for people from a local business what more do people want .

By sharon

great news but when will it be opening ?

By jan

come on mr morris get the ball rolling jesus waited long enough for this

By paula

GARSTON !!!!!!!!

By A customer

Not before time. Can’t wait. Speke has been lacking for a very long time

By Barbara

We need an Aldi or Lidl next to it

By Anonymous

Hurry up traffic is a nightmare , months of doing a U TURN at the traffic lights on Speke Boulevard on Evans road then having to Que back along Speke boulevard to get into work at southern gateway .. they built the Pyramids quicker

By Anonymous

You have only 3 disabled car spaces in the car park that is terrible big car park and only 3 disabled car parking spaces I think you need some more as it’s not disabled friendly I hope you can sort it out

By Paul munroe

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