Plans for retail outlet village and hundreds of new homes given green light
Chorley Council has recommended to approve planning for the major redevelopment of FI Real Estate Management’s Botany Bay site to create the North West’s brand new outlet shopping destination.
The milestone marks a huge step forward for the much-anticipated Botany Bay Outlet Village scheme.
Plans include the redevelopment of 37 hectares of land split by the Leeds-Liverpool Canal to create a 300,000 sq ft retail outlet village, up to 288 homes, and space for significant employment uses.
Designed to complement Botany Bay’s rich industrial heritage, the ambitious plans include the refurbishment of the iconic Victorian cotton mill on site, which will sit at the heart of the new mixed-use development.
The planning applications follow an extended period of consultation with Chorley Council planning officers, Highways England and Lancashire County Council to develop a thorough and robust solution to tackle potential highways issues.
The Chorley-based asset and property management company said it is committed to ensuring the new development brings extensive economic benefits to the area.
This includes training and employment opportunities for local people and engagement with local businesses in partnership with Chorley Council’s Economic Growth team.
A spokesperson for FI Real Estate Management, said: “The reinvention of Botany Bay has been in the planning for a number of years and this approval brings to fruition a great deal of work to create a masterplan that blends premium outlet retail, quality housing and valuable employment uses.
“Botany Bay has a rich heritage and we have put the site’s industrial history at the heart of the designs for this truly unique development.
“Our vision is to create a flagship outlet shopping destination for the North West, which not only attracts visitors to the area, but more importantly creates jobs and acts as a catalyst for further investment for Chorley and the borough.
“Receiving planning approval is a huge testament to this vision and we very much look forward to bringing it to life.”