Alternative site

[sleepless]

Wasn't there a rumour that the garden centre on Dooley Lane was going to be developed into a large supermarket?  This would be an ideal site for a large store with plenty of car park space, on a bus route and a main road, and would not intrude on a residential area.  If the garden centre were thinking of selling to a supermarket they had better get a move on.

[Harry]

IF its retail.

Retail is not a good business at the moment. Even Tesco has just had £5b knocked off its value.

What if its:
housing
care home (look at the size of the one at Barrack Hill)
hotel
leisure centre
hot food takeaway (such as McDonalds or KFC)
drinking establishment
restaurant
night club

All uses that the council would consider and all ones that wouldn't want to have their car park for public use.

But this is all conjecture, just like the hysteria about Hibbert Lane. We'll all just have to wait and see what happens.

[Howard]

I would expect anybody who acquires this land, for whatever purpose, to make any parking for the use of customers only.

Good point.  But if the Carver Theatre and anyone else with an interest in this makes representations to the council at the consultation stage of the planning application, they may be able to get public parking made a condition of planning consent. 

And in addition, apart from the odd matinee (Gang Show and Pantomime), the Carver performances are in the evening when the car park may be used less than in the daytime, especially if it's a retail establishment.

[Dave]

I would expect anybody who acquires this land, for whatever purpose, to make any parking for the use of customers only.

Good point.  But if the Carver Theatre and anyone else with an interest in this makes representations to the council at the consultation stage of the planning application, they may be able to get public parking made a condition of planning consent. 

[JMC]

I suspect the answer depends on whether a 7 mile round car trip to the nearest large supermarket that isn't the Co-op is 'acceptable'. Not something that I have a strong view on either way as I have a car and can make the journey, but again this is an issue that is likley to be a key debating point at any inquiry and at the crux of an Inspector's final decision.

Excellent point. I fully agree.

[Harry]

I would expect anybody who acquires this land, for whatever purpose, to make any parking for the use of customers only.

[HWL1973]

A McDonalds or KFC would definitely be interested in a plot of that size

[Dave]

And the loss of the car parking is going to affect the theatre too.

I think the council's requirement that 'any redevelopment proposals will need to incorporate sufficient car parking provision' should take care of that. 

If a supermarket isn't interested, the council document lists a number of other possible uses:

A1     Shops
A2     Financial and Professional Services
A3     Restaurants and Cafes
A4     Drinking Establishments
A5     Hot Food Take Away
B1     Business
D1     Non Residential Institution
D2     Assembly and Leisure
C1     Hotel
C2     Residential Institution
C3     Dwelling Houses
Some types of Sui Generis use e.g. Night Club, Casino   

[Howard]

It might be OK for an Aldi or a Netto, however? 

I believe that all the Netto stores were sold to Asda recently. The "cut-price" supermarkets are Aldi and Lidl. If there is going to be a supermarket on that site then I'd definitely prefer an Aldi.

[Belly]

I like the description of 'gentle slope' - really? 

[Barbara]

I hope the red outlining is slightly inaccurate as it looks as if it demolishes part of the back of the Carver!
And the loss of the car parking is going to affect the theatre too.

[Dave]

Interesting stuff.  But isn't 'alternative site' a bit of a misnomer?  At 0.5 hectares, the Chadwick Street site is small, and not really an alternative to the Hibbert Lane site, which is (I think) about 3.5 hectares. 

if so, it wouldn't interest any of the major supermarket chains.  It might be OK for an Aldi or a Netto, however? 

[admin]

The details of the alternative Supermarket site are now published and Stockport MBC is seeking expressions of interest from purchasers for the site indentified.

At this stage the Council is not specifying a particular use but Retail A1 is the preferred use for the site, given its proximity to the District Centre. Uses which would contribute to the range and quality of Marple’s retail offer enhancing consumer choice and the vitality of the District Centre are encouraged.

Any redevelopment proposals will need to incorporate sufficient car parking provision.

It is expected that any comprehensive development of the Chadwick Street site will incorporate the Royal Mail Sorting Office site, subject to an alternative site being found for the Sorting Office to which it can relocate.

Expressions of interest should be made in writing/emailed no later than Friday 17th February 2012 and addressed to Ian Keyte, Estates & Asset Management, NPS Stockport Ltd.

www.marple-uk.com/misc/Marple-Chadwick-st-web-details0112.pdf

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Smithy166]

So, having a CO-OP supermarket is pre-historic? I really don't get how that makes sense personally.

[Steptoe and Son]

Why not build a supermarket in the middle of Marple and re develop the town centre.

Because a lot of the locals (and the MP) have made it clear that they don't wish Marple to move into the 21st century.  Therefore any development money is more likely to be spent elsewhere.

There is also a lack of space, so a multi story car park may be needed, these are not cheap.

Deary me, the 'if you don't want a supermarket in Marple then your backward looking' argument, poor...very poor.