Strong support from public for new shops at retail park

THERE is strong support for plans to build new shop units at intu Braehead’s retail park following a public consultation into the proposal.

More than 150 people attended an exhibition about the plan, which could provide jobs to 60 new staff at the stores and support businesses, along with 80 construction jobs.

Visitors to the consultation event last month were asked to complete a questionnaire and 96 per cent of the people who did so, said they were in favour of the proposals at the retail park with 99 percent said the retail park would be better if it had a wider range of retailers.

Following the public consultation, a planning application to build four new units, covering a total of 4,202 square metres of floorspace in the retail park next to McDonald’s restaurant, has now been submitted to Renfrewshire Council.

Peter Beagley, regional centre director at intu Braehead said: “The majority of the positive comments we received focused on the jobs this proposal would create.

“Many people also stated that they welcomed the extended retail offering giving shoppers more choice.”
This is the second application for new units at the retail park. Council planning officials had recommended the previous application for approval, but the planning board refused permission.

However, for this new application intu Braehead has committed to not implement planning permissions previously granted at the retail park for around 3,358 square metres of floorspace.

This means the amount of floorspace now being proposed, compared to what intu Braehead would forego, is only 844 square metres more.

Peter continued: “Our application is in line with the council’s own Local Plan, which promotes the retail park at intu Braehead as a place where developments like this should be sited. Our proposals are also in accordance with the wider Strategic Development Plan. With this new space, new retailers will be attracted to Renfrewshire, it brings more shopping choice to the people living here.

“It’s estimated the proposed jobs would generate an extra £890,000 in wages each year, which people can spend in shops and businesses in the local towns, villages and communities where they live around Renfrewshire.”