Developer seeks to put extra shops in New Brighton resort scheme

Dec 2 2009 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

A DEVELOPER has dismissed fears that plans for more shops in New Brighton’s major regeneration scheme will create “just another retail park”.

Neptune Developments, who recently appointed a contractor to carry out the final phase of the £60m New Brighton scheme, have submitted a planning application to change the use for two units to allow additional retail units.

New Brighton councillor Tony Pritchard said he was concerned the development was becoming “more of a retail park and less a mixed use development” with the main focus on leisure facilities.

Cllr Pritchard said: “We have to be careful we were going for a mixed development and if we go to more retail units it could end up just another retail park.”

Earlier this month, Bowmer & Kirkland, one of the country’s leading privately-owned construction groups, was appointed by Neptune to build the £35m phase two of the scheme.

This includes a new Morrisons supermarket, a 66-bed Travelodge hotel, a digital cinema, bars, restaurants, a watersports training centre, a new model boating lake, a public Lido and other public spaces, as well as improved public transport links.

It is two units which open on to the car park in front of the Morrisons which Neptune says leisure developers are not keen on.

The planning application that interest in these has been expressed by Argos, Pets at Home, Next, TK Maxx, Sports Direct and B&M Bargains, among others.