Out of town shopping could be set to receive a further boost with the news of plans to add a new retail unit on the Scunthorpe Retail Park. Hot on the heels of the recent announcement that Marks and Spencer are to anchor new retail park at Frodingham Grange this proposed investment is an indication that out of town shopping with its free parking is something shoppers desire.

The retail park on Holyrood Drive in Scunthorpe has recently seen a change in fortunes since owners Savills oversaw major refurbishment and re-branding of the former Skippingdale Retail Park. Joining The Range & Bensons Beds last year saw the opening of Home Bargains, Matalan & Poundworld with Iceland set to join them in March this year.

Now the retail park owners have submitted plans to develop the former petrol station area with the construction of a new unit offering 8000 square feet of floor space on two levels. The proposed development comprises of one retail unit with service area, parking facilities for 16 cars (two disable bays) along with landscaping. The ground floor area is approximately 5,000sqft (465sqm), with 3,000sqft (279sqm) storage mezzanine. The total gross internal floor area of the development will be 8,000sqft (744sqm).

The new proposed building frontage has been designed to face towards the main car park and Holyrood Drive, so it can be easily be observed by users of the park and passers by. The entrance will have a projecting feature canopy including provision for tenant’s signage with a glazed canopy to provide further articulation on the facade. The customer entrance will be provided with a level access or ramp to accommodate changes in ground level.

The site had been use as a petrol station from 1985 by Hilliard’s (above left) and then Tesco’s from 1987 up until 2002. Three 10,000 gallon tanks still remain in the ground, these have since been foam filled along with the associated pipe work.

As the application goes to the planning committee the Retail Park owners have still to confirm a tenant for the new unit and therefore applied for three different Usage Classes, these being;           

A1 Shops - Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices (but not sorting offices), pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners, funeral directors and internet cafes.

A3 Restaurants and cafés - For the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises - restaurants, snack bars and cafes.

A5 Hot food takeaways - For the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises.
 
Savilles are looking to have the remainder of the park fully let in 2012 meaning it would be the first time it will have been fully let in around 11 years.