Furniture giant Leekes gets go ahead for new Coventry store

[dutchman]

Plans for a furniture giant to relocate to Coventry could be halted after city council planners raised issues over the location.



Leekes furniture store announced it had bought the former Makro site on the Gallagher Business Park, Rowleys Green, in August this year.

They have now submitted plans to Nuneaton and Bedworth Council for permission to change the use of the site from a storage and distribution centre to a retail outlet.

However, planning officers at Coventry City Council, which borders the site, have objected to the location and suggested the firm looked at more central units in the city before permission is granted.

In the report, which will be considered by the city council’s planning committee next week, planning officer, Anne Lynch wrote: ”The application proposes an out-of-centre retail store and officers do not consider that sufficient evidence has been submitted to support these proposals.

“Before considering out-of-centre locations there should have been a robust assessment of available sites within Coventry.”

She goes on to say an agreement was made with the council when cash and carry retailer Makro opened in 2002 that the land and premises would not be used for retail sales. The building has stood vacant since Makro closed in 2009.

Leekes, currently based in Leicester Road, Bedworth, hoped to relocate to the site to expand and create up to 100 jobs, but their plans could be scuppered by planning officers who want them to look at other retail sites in the city before moving.

Ms Lynch continues: “All in-centre options should be thoroughly assessed before less central sites are considered.

“It is therefore considered the application fails to demonstrate robust sequential and impact assessments and could therefore undermine the city centre and district centres and it is recommended objections be submitted to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in respect of this application.”

Bosses at Leekes have stated other options they have looked at in Coventry are too small for the scale of store proposed and would not meet their requirements.

Earlier this year Emma Leeke, managing director, said: “This is potentially a very exciting development for our business.

"While our existing site at Bedworth is in a very good town centre location, the size of the store limits the breadth of product we can offer.

“The former Makro site is opposite a landmark in the area, the Ricoh Arena on the A444 dual carriageway close to junction three of the M6, so will be ideal for our new store.”

[dutchman]

Furniture giant Leekes is a step closer to opening a huge new department store in Coventry after being given the go-ahead by planners this week.

The retailer wants to redevelop the former Makro site on the Gallagher Business Park into a massive 130,000 sq ft store – creating over 200 new jobs.

Bosses have agreed the terms of purchase for the freehold of the site and on Wednesday night Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council resolved to grant planning permission for the move.

The application will now be referred to the Secretary of State because it deviates from the development plan and due to the size of the proposal.

If given the final go-ahead, the new plan will see Leekes furniture store relocate from its base in Leicester Road, Bedworth, with all staff being offered a position at the new site in Coventry.

Emma Leeke, managing director of the company, said: “We are absolutely delighted that we gained unanimous support from the council planning committee who have resolved to grant us planning permission.

“We hope to gain a favourable response from the Secretary of State in the next few weeks to enable us to begin our work at the site. This represents the start of an exciting next chapter for our business in the Midlands.

“The site will become the new flagship store for our business set in an extremely convenient location, opposite the Ricoh Arena and close to the M6.

“Our purchase of the freehold for this site means that we are making a long-term commitment to this area. We have a multi-million pound refurbishment budget for the old Makro where we plan to install kitchen, bathroom and conservatory studios.”

If the plans are granted, the new department store is scheduled to open by the summer of this year.

In November last year, planning officers at Coventry City Council – whose area borders the site – objected to the location and suggested the firm looked at more central units in the city.

"This is despite the fact that the building has stood vacant since Makro closed in 2009.

[dutchman]

Leekes' flagship store in Coventry edges closer

FURNITURE giant Leekes looks set to open its new flagship store in Coventry this summer after the multi-million pound scheme was given a huge boost this week.

The retailer is looking to redevelop the former Makro site on the Gallagher Business Park into a massive 130,000 sq ft store – creating more than 200 new jobs in the city.

Earlier this year, plans for the new 130,000 sq ft store were held up when it was revealed it needed ministerial approval due to the size of the development.

But today bosses of the family-run firm have announced the application will not now be reviewed by the Secretary of State.

Instead, approval will be left to the planning department at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, which has already agreed permission for the store.

Managing director Emma Leeke has welcomed the news and says she believes the new Coventry store will mark one of the most important milestones in the chain’s 120-year history.

She said: “This store will signal a new chapter in our long history.

“It will be the largest department store in a 50-mile radius and, as a result, we have exciting plans for it in terms of appearance, layout and product offering.

“The vision for the site is simple, to offer everything needed for a home, under one roof.”

More than £6million will now be ploughed into the development to ensure the store becomes Leekes’ flagship business when it launches in August.