The opening of an Asda food store at Filton’s Abbey Wood Retail Park has moved a step closer after South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) granted planning permission for a redevelopment of part of the site.
The approved plans involve demolishing the ‘southern terrace’ of units (previously occupied by Woolworths and T.J. Hughes) and replacing it with a 5,007sqm Asda foodstore and two adjacent non-food outlets with a combined 3,530sqm gross floorspace.
Two further new freestanding units, totalling 1,244sqm and situated on land currently used for car parking, are also included in the plans. Each of these units will be sub-divided into three units of varying sizes.
One of the new freestanding units will also house public WCs on the ground floor and a management office on the first floor.
The existing ‘northern terrace’, occupied at present by Next Clearance, Brantano, JJB, Pets at Home and Matalan, will have its frontage and eastern flank wall remodelled.
Proposed landscaping features will include a ‘Central Square’, in the middle of the existing car park, and an ‘East Square’ flanked by the two new freestanding units.
The point of vehicular access will remain the same, but a new pedestrian link will be constructed from the MOD access road on the south-eastern boundary of the site, while pedestrian access from Station Road, on the northern edge of the site, will be improved.
Implementation of the scheme will result in a net loss of 149 parking spaces, which Highways Officers said would be acceptable, given the package of measures proposed to encourage sustainable travel in the applicant’s Travel Plan.
A second planning application, proposing an alternative, less extensive, scheme that would see the ‘southern terrace’ converted into a single unit, still awaits a decision. It was placed on hold, at the request of the applicant, while the application for the larger scheme was determined.
Sainsbury’s, which has a store on the opposite side of the Abbey Wood Roundabout, objected to the scheme, saying that it would have a 14% impact on convenience goods turnover and claiming that it would undermine the Council’s long-term objective of creating a district centre around their Stoke Gifford store.
Their arguments were rejected by Council officers and members of the Planning Committee voted unanimously to approve the application.
Photo 1: Empty units previously occupied by Woolworths and T.J. Hughes.
Photo 2: Signpost at the Abbey Wood Retail Park, Filton, Bristol.
Good bring it on. Good to see WCs included, wont have to sneak into McDonalds any more. I am sure it will bring a new lease of life to the whole area. Competition across the road, yes, but thats all for the good.
The owners of Abbey Wood Retail Park put out a press release yesterday (20th Mar):
“Hermes Real Estate Investment Managers Limited (HREIML) is pleased to announce planning permission has been granted for the development of a total of 85,000 sq ft of retail warehousing and restaurant space at its Abbeywood Retail Park, Bristol.”
“The total c£15m development will see the delivery of 50,000 sq ft of food supermarket space, 20,000 sq ft of retail warehousing and 15,000 sq ft of A1, A2 and A3 units. Asda have signed a 25-year lease for the
50,000 sq ft unit on offer.”
“Construction will begin mid 2012 with completion anticipated mid-
2013.”
Read more: Planning Permission Secured For Significant Development At Abbeywood Retail Park
Having an Asda store at this retail park is absolutely fantastic. It’s about time that Sainsbury’s had some competition and it’ll save those car journeys to Cribbs Causeway.
Marvellous news – I hope they have a decent bakery like at Cribbs. Lovely cakes, lovely prices, loads of calories!!
Would be absolutely fantastic if there was a Wilkinsons, too