17m Plan for Retail Park at Site of Former Steelworks

Oct 23, 07:32 AM

Current Headlines: By GAVIN HAVERY

A PLANNING application to create a 17m retail park on a former steelworks site has been submitted.At least 260 jobs are expected to be created if Project Genesis is given the go-ahead for Consett.Derwentside District Council leader Councillor Alex Watson said: "We did an assessment of shopping trends and found that a lot of money was leaving the town since opening of the MetroCentre 20 years ago."We continue to fight to have people spend their money in Stanley and Consett, and this will dramatically enhance that."This has got to be the way forward, and it is a good thing for Derwentside as a whole."The proposal has been drawn up for the development on the so-called Upper Plateau of the 750-acre site at Berry Edge, near a proposed hotel and where a restaurant is under construction.The location is close to the 20m Consett Sports Village, planned to open in 2008, andyards from Derwentside College and Hermiston Retail Park.The plans submitted to Derwentside council call for space totalling 100,000sq ft, with a mix of food and non- food retailers.Morris Muter, managing director of Project Genesis, said: "Combining our experience of retail development in Consett with a detailed report on shopping habits in the town, we have identified that there is significant scope to enhance the range of stores currently on offer."The new retail park would have the effect of reducing the number of people from Derwentside who choose to do their shopping outside the area."We also know that there is a long list of national retailers looking to open up in Consett, but the lack of suitable units has limited their opportunities to do so."This development would provide modern, adaptable retail units perfectly suited to the needs of these firms."The planning submission was made following the completion of a detailed study, which demonstrated that the project would comply with planning guidelines as an integral part of the overall plan for the Project Genesis site. If the planning application gains approval, construction is scheduled to begin in 2008, with the development being completed in two phases over two years.

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