Developer submits plans for £15m Widnes retail park

VECTOR Investments has submitted plans to convert former industrial land at Tanhouse Yard near Widnes town centre into a new retail park.

The firm has submitted an outline planning application to convert the 8.2 acre site after sending out 1,500 letters to local residents informing them of its plans and hosting a public exhibition over the past two months. It is being advised by Jones Lang LaSalle.

Andy Frost, a director of Jones LangLaSalle’s planning team, said that there was a “healthy demand” for new retailers in Widnes.

“Our proposals seek to capture this retail demand in a way which benefits local people and the local economy in general,” he said.

“Importantly, it will help to draw shoppers back to Widnes who currently travel to other retail parks in places such as Speke and Warrington. 

“In so doing, it will also encourage more shoppers to visit and spend in Widnes town centre.  We have worked closely with the Council and local people to make sure we get the proposals right and the reaction to them has so far has been generally very positive.”

Widnes town centre has been hit hard during the recent recession. A report by Colliers published in August last year showed that retail rents in the town centre dropped by 17% in the preceding 12 months to £50 per sq ft.