Proposed £3m leisure development ‘to create 150 jobs’
Europe’s largest inland marina Mercia Marina is planning a £3m restaurant, retail and office development which is set to create between 120-150 more jobs.
Plans for “The Piazza” are currently being considered by South Derbyshire District Council.
The Piazza will be built on the peninsula next to the marina’s Boardwalk shopping, leisure and office development, which opened in 2014.
The proposed three-storey building, which will border the area surrounding the marina’s unique five-sided bandstand, is likely to contain a ground-floor restaurant and up to six shops, with offices on the two upper floors.
The internal design flexibility will also allow for retailers to occupy two floors if required. Likewise, the upper floor offices can be turned into single open-plan spaces for a large business, or several smaller office spaces.
“Our exciting new development proposal demonstrates just how successful we have become as a destination,” said Robert Neff, general manager of Mercia Marina, in Findern Lane, near Willington.
“Since the marina opened in 2008, we have become recognised as a major regional tourist attraction, not only for shopping, eating and drinking, but also boat trips, boat holidays, lodge holidays and much more.”
Mercia Marina’s Piazza proposal replaces a similar plan which gained planning permission at the time The Boardwalk was given the go-ahead. If approved, it is envisaged that The Piazza could be completed by December 2017.
