Croft Retail Park overhaul approved

PROPOSALS for a £7m redevelopment of Croft Retail Park in Bromborough which could create 66 new jobs have been approved by Wirral Borough Council.

The council’s planning committee voted last night to approve a proposal by the park’s owner,  Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), to reconfigure its bowling unit, cinema and a number of existing retail units. A linked application to build a new bowling alley at the nearby Wirral International Business Park was also given the green light.

USS, which was advised by Drivers Jonas Deloitte, now plans to reduce the size of the onsite cinema and create a new 60,000 sq ft non-food retail unit, new freestanding restaurants/takeaways and a new retail unit.

It added that the non-food space could be subdivided into four separate units. Although no occupier had been signed up to the space, USS has been in talks with several interested furniture store operators including Next Home, DFS, SCS, CSL and others.

Council officers had recommended that both applications were rejected, arguing that the new site for the bowling club on Wirral International Business Park was a “key employment asset” for the area. It also argued that the redeveloped retail park could have a detrimental effect on trading and investment in Birkenhead town centre, and was in conflict with planning policy.

The scheme had the support of a number of councillors, however, including Cllrs Irene Williams and Steve Niblock.

Cllr Williams said there had been a cinema and bowling alley on site for many years, and that operators of both wanted to reduce the size of the units in order to cut overheads.

“It would be a great shame if Bromborough were to lose these facilities altogether and I can’t see what benefit this would be to other areas in the borough.

Cllr Niblock argued that the Wirral was “in desperate need” of the new jobs that will be created through the redevelopment.

Drivers Jonas Deloitte partner Graham Stock said: “We are delighted that planning permission has been granted, which will help to ensure that the bowling facility continues to operate and the £7m of investment planned for The Croft can be achieved.”