A planning application has been submitted for the redevelopment of the entire redundant sections of the Errill Retail Park.
Under the proposals the old Plymco Homemaker building would be completely demolished, the former Allied Carpets building would be refurbished and have a change of use to allow for use as a builder’s merchant, with trade counter and showroom plus service yard, and the building recently vacated by Buyology would have a different entrance arrangement and be used as a retail unit for Home Bargains.
The overall number of parking slots would total 196, including disabled and parents with children spaces.
The proposed Home Bargains building would extend to more than 30,000 square feet, some 2,000 square feet less retail space than the Buyology store.
It is estimated that the overall development would create around 120 full-time and part time jobs. Another 25 jobs would be created with the conversion of the former Allied Carpets building into a builder’s merchants.
Home Bargains’ principal range includes health and beauty products, medicines, baby products, household products, toys and games, pet food, home furnishings and ornaments, seasonal products, ancillary food and drink products and a limited clothing range.
Home Bargains was was established over 40 years ago by Tom Morris, who opened his first store in Old Swan, Liverpool. The business has grown organically to become one of the biggest privately-owned companies in the UK and currently employs over 22,000 members of staff.
Home Bargains is also one of the UK’s fastest growing discount retailers. The business currently has more than 575 stores throughout the UK and plans to expand to over 1,000 stores employing over 40,000 staff. The company operates within the discount, or value, retail sector.
Their strap line is ‘Top Brands – Bottom Prices’. The discount retail sector has seen significant growth in recent years as shoppers have been attracted by the quality of products and competitive pricing.
The prospect of having the site brought back into some sort of use has been generally welcomed given that two thirds of it has been unused for some years and has become a magnet for vandalism and graffiti.
The problem was heightened in the recent storms when part of the boarded up entrance to the former Allied Carpets unit fell away, leaving the inside of the building exposed. This drew concern from local councillors who called for the site owners to take steps to shore it back up as the building was left exposed during the start of the school half term week when children might have been tempted to go inside where there was glass strewn around the floor and pieces of suspended ceiling hanging down. The building has since been secured again.
While the prospect of the site coming back into use has met with general approval there is divided opinion as to whether the proposals submitted to planners represent the best use of the site.
There is certainly a degree of community support for the new retail offerings being proposed but the Plymouth and West Devon Joint Local Plan earmarks the Errill Retail Park as a site suitable for 60 houses. To date though no developer has come forward with any proposals for housing development there.
There is also a body of opinion that the site would be an ideal location for a new train station in Plympton. One of those behind that idea is Ian Poyser, who came within a whisker of being elected the first Green Party member of Plymouth City Council when he stood in the Chaddlewood ward in 2021 and lost out by just 101 votes. More than 1,500 people have signed an online petition started by Mr Poyser calling for steps to be taken to re-establish a train station in Plympton.
Mr Poyser said:
“In my view the council and other partners need to be exploring the option of utilising this site as a station supported with retail provision. The economic benefits of combining retail provision and a station could be far greater than retail alone.”
Although many people have expressed comments about the planning application on Facebook, ward councillor Terri Beer emphasised the importance of people with views submitting formal responses through the council’s online planning portal.
Full details of the current proposals submitted for the Errill Retail Park can be viewed on the planning section of the city council’s website by searching on application number 21/02266/FUL.
Members of the public have until March 22 to make representations regarding the plans.
(Story courtesy of the Plympton Podcast)
