The following press release has been made by Kirkland Developments today:
Plans in store for town centre site
Kirkland Developments, a local development company based in Stockport, has today announced that it is bringing forward proposals for a new foodstore in Marple town centre. The store, to be located off Trinity Street where the Royal Mail depot currently stands, will ensure residents can undertake their weekly shop in Marple town centre instead of having to travel out of town, reducing residents’ fuel costs and making food shopping more convenient.
Kirkland’s proposals will also help existing Marple traders by providing an ‘anchor’ in-centre foodstore with free car parking which will increase footfall in the Town Centre, leading to spin-off trade for independent businesses. The proposed foodstore will also provide a welcome boost to the local economy by retaining spending within Marple and by creating a considerable number of new flexible local jobs.
Kirkland recognises the local concern over the location of a foodstore to serve Marple and has carefully planned the proposals to encourage linked trips between the town centre site and local shops, particularly along Market Street and Trinity Street. The plans include an enhanced pedestrian route from Market Street, between the Bull’s Head Pub and Royal Bank of Scotland, over Trinity Street to the proposed store entrance.
Kirkland Developments want to ensure that local residents are able to view the plans, ask questions of the development team and feed back their views. As such, a public exhibition of the proposals will be held in October and more details of this will be released soon. The launch of Kirkland’s proposals comes as ASDA holds its public exhibition for an out-of-town store on Hibbert Lane.
Rod Hogarth, Managing Director, Kirkland Developments, commented:
“As a local company and the Council’s preferred development partner, we’re pleased to be in a position to bring forward proposals for a foodstore right in the heart of Marple Town Centre.
“This store is in a great location. It will help to increase footfall to the town centre and enable local residents to do their weekly shop at a store in Marple, meaning that they don’t have to travel elsewhere – saving time and money, and helping the local economy.
“We are in discussions with a number of high quality food retailers who have expressed an interest in locating here, particularly if the Council were to refuse permission for ASDA’s current plans for an out-of-centre foodstore on Hibbert Lane.
“It’s important to hear the views of the local community before we submit our planning application and I would encourage those who can attend to come along to our consultation events.”
The proposals represent substantial private investment and will create hundreds of jobs.
A website for the proposals will be established shortly as well as a community information line ready to answer residents’ queries.