Muller unveils £40m scheme for Sandbach

CHESHIRE property group Muller has revealed plans for a £40m retail and leisure development in Sandach, which it says could create 600 jobs in the town.

The scheme, to be called ‘Old Mill Quarter’ comprises a 40,000 supermarket with a petrol station, a garden centre, a drive-through’ KFC diner,  a Premier Inn hotel, Starbucks coffee shop, and a family-focused pub and restaurant.
 
Alsager-based Muller Property Group says the site is located in a “highly sustainable position” on the edge of the town centre next to Old Mill Road and the existing Waitrose foodstore,
 
The company’s investment will also include up to 20 light industrial and trade counter employment units, which will be offered with discounted rent and other incentives to boost employment in the town, which Muller estimates has lost  more than 1,200 jobs over the last 10 years.

Colin Muller, founder and chief executive of Muller Property Group said:
“Our vision is to ensure Sandbach remains a vibrant, lively and sustainable place to live and work.

“We are looking to provide a wider choice of food shopping, leisure amenities and employment facilities that local residents and businesses desperately need so they don’t have to leave the town.

“The Old Mill Quarter development is a unique opportunity to ensure this vision can be delivered, whilst also creating long-term employment opportunities. Given the history of business closures and job losses in the town this is a scheme with big credentials.”

“This investment will help Sandbach to remain an attractive town for shopping and leisure and a vibrant place to live and work”.
 
The scheme which has been the subject of a full and detailed transport assessment, will fund local highway improvements to Old Mill Road and High Street, and will make a contribution to the wider road network at Junction 17.
 
Muller expects to submit its final plans to Cheshire East Council this summer and would expect a planning decision by the end of the year.

If approved construction could start in early 2013 with a view to completing the first phase later that year with the full scheme to be finished by 2015.
 
Public consultation is currently taking place before the application is submitted.
 
Mr Muller added: “We are looking forward to getting the public’s views on our plans and talking to them about how our vision will improve and enhance shopping, leisure and employment provision in Sandbach.”