Defence Online

Proposals to demolish a B&Q store in Stratford-upon-Avon and replace it with three speculative units are set to be approved, despite the retailer warning that the move could result in the loss of almost 50 jobs.The revised application for the store at Maybird Retail Park was lodged by its owner Capital Hill Partnership (GP) Ltd in April, almost two years after a similar scheme was given the green light by Stratford-on-Avon District Council.A statement prepared on behalf of Capital Hill by NS Architects said the redevelopment will create better yielding retail units for the park.It proposes the replacement of the B&Q store with three units, the largest unit will measure 15,000 sq ft with a full mezzanine. The remaining two will provide 6,500 sq ft of space with mezzanines measuring 3,500 sq ft.The application is recommended for approval at Stratford council’s planning committee meeting later this week (7 September 2016).It comes in spite in B&Q objecting to the scheme on the grounds of potential job losses. The retailer argued that 49 jobs could be lost, along with consumer choice in Stratford. It also said the project could impact the town as the development is “purely speculative” with no end users.While planning officers said the concerns raised by B&Q have been “noted”, they added that the benefits of the proposed development “outweigh those concerns”.