Wyre approves 8,000 sq ft Thornton retail

BXB Thornton has secured consent for the creation of two shops off Fleetwood Road, four months after the joint venture was refused planning permission for its neighbouring residential scheme.

Brownfield land specialist BXB and developer Promenade Estates have joined up to deliver the Thornton Cleveleys scheme, designed by The Harris Partnership.

The scheme will see two retail units built. The larger unit will measure 5,000 sq ft, while the smaller unit will measure 3,000 sq ft.

Plans form part of the wider vision for the area, which will see numerous housebuilders deliver more than 630 homes.

BXB Thornton acquired the 12-acre site from Sainsbury’s for £2m in February 2021 .

Gary Goodman, director of BXB, said “We consulted extensively with the public, who were overwhelmingly in favour of good quality neighbourhood retail provision.

“There’s still some work to do to try and accommodate councillors’ needs with regards to the housing site next door and we hope to make an announcement in this regard shortly.”

In February, BXB Thornton’s plans to build 130 homes on the neighbouring site were refused against officers’ recommendations due to concerns regarding the number of affordable homes and highway safety.

Nexus Planning is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team is landscape architect Urban Green, transport consultant Curtins, and ecological consultant ERAP.

Mason Owen and Jeccor are the joint letting agents for the retail units.

This is not the first time that the JV has worked together, with work underway to deliver 1,100 homes on the former Cowley Hill glassworks site in St Helens.

To find out more about the plans for Thornton, search for application number 22/00845/OUT on Wyre Council’s planning portal.