Defence Online

Plans for a major expansion of one of Middlesbrough’s most popular shopping centres are set to be approved later this week when councillors meet to discuss the scheme.The Parkway Shopping Centre in Coulby Newham will be extended by five units, adding more than 43,000 sq ft to the shopping facility. The expansion represents a 40 per cent increase in retail and commercial floor space.In addition, the plans outline the reconfiguration of the car park and demolition of Dalby House.The Parkway Shopping Centre currently consists of 25 units with a floor space measuring more than 108,000 sq ft, not including a Tesco supermarket. Tenants include Iceland, Peacocks, Home Bargains and Boots.Middlesbrough Council’s planning committee has been recommended to approve the project on Friday (14 October 2016). It comes two months after councillors agreed to defer the scheme over concerns about the parking provision.The planning documents stated members expressed their unease that the retail floor space was significantly increasing but parking numbers were being reduced by 22 spaces.However, revised parking arrangements now preserve existing numbers in a reconfigured format.Middlesbrough Council planning officers concluded the application would have “noteworthy positive impact” on the local economy of the area and would bring clear recognisable benefits to the area.The Parkway Shopping Centre was bought by Ellandi and Bridges Ventures in July 2015 for £12.2m.