Derelict site set for £8.5m retail transformation
PROPERTY investment and development firm Opus North has been given the green light to develop a derelict site in Armley into an £8.5m retail park.
Leeds planners have put forward plans to develop the site, which was previously occupied by DENSO Marston, the thermal cooling systems manufacturer.
Construction of the retail park will begin in the summer and it is scheduled to open in spring next year.
The Armley decision follows a major £6.5 million retail park in Skipton, also by Opus, being given the go-ahead by Craven District Council.
Andrew Duncan, managing director of Opus North, said: “These sizeable investments in Armley and Skipton will bring more jobs to the area and more choice to shoppers. They are major boosts to the local economy.”
“We have been incredibly busy, busier even than in the boom times before 2008 The new confidence in the economy means that deals can be done, provided the location, the building and the price, for both leasing and buying, are right.
“The go-ahead for our Armley and Skipton development means that we have received outline planning permission for seven new developments during the past 12 months, worth a combined total of £85m. Other multi-million pound projects are now underway at Darlington, Morecambe, Aberystwyth, Runcorn, Llandudno.”
Opus North is funded by Palmer Capital the venture capital and fund manager specialising in property.
In Darlington, a major £10 million retail park in Albert Road has been given the green light, creating 150 jobs and plans for a major £17m retail and leisure park at Morecambe have also been given the go-ahead.
A new Bay Shopping Park, which is adjacent to a 70,000 sq ft Morrison’s store, will create 500 jobs and fill the site on Morecambe Promenade, transforming this long-derelict site and providing much-needed accommodation to suit modern retailers
