B&M Bargains is moving from its site on Lord Street in Southport town centre and into the Central 12 retail park in Southport.
The firm will join together two vacant units at the retail park, previously occupied by Outfit and Sports Direct in Units 1 and 2, creating an estimated 30 jobs.
The new 3,181sqm B&M Bargains store will include a new external garden centre area to the rear of the store, to allow a broader range of goods to be sold.
It will be situated between the existing Asda superstore and Boots.
A planning application for the scheme will be decided by Sefton Council’s Planning Committee next Wednesday (18th January 2023).
Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie has recommended councillors to approve the plans.
A planning condition will be attached which will insist on the continued trading of B&M from its existing store at 95 Lord Street store to the expiry of its current lease in December 2025.
The application has been submitted by JLL on behalf of Aviva Investors Pensions Ltd, which owns Central 12.
In the report they said: “Unit 1 was most recently occupied by Outfit, a subsidiary of Arcadia which provided an outlet for Arcadia brands (Topshop, Topman, Burton, Evans, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge) generally located in an out of centre retail park location.
“Arcadia entered into administration in November 2020 and while a number of brands were sold to third parties, administrators for the Group were not able to find a buyer and all Outfit stores closed as of January 2021. Unit 2 has remained vacant for some time, having previously been occupied by Sports Direct.
“The operator requires an area of outdoor garden centre space, an amalgamated floorplate and a number of internal and external works to facilitate their operation.
“In addition to the physical works, the prospective occupier, as a mixed-goods retailer, seeks consent to allow the sale of a broader range of goods including a small proportion of the unit being given over to the sale of basic convenience goods eg ambient packets, bottles, jars etc. The proposed operator would not seek to offer fresh, chilled or frozen goods.
“The proposed works consisting of the amalgamation of the two units, the creation of a new external garden centre, internal alterations and the broadening of the range of goods which can be sold from the unit will allow the units to be returned to a commercial use.
“The occupation of the unit will introduce a new employer to the retail park, offering employment opportunities to the local community across a number of roles.
“It is anticipated that a store of this scale and nature would offer 20-30 roles across a range of levels, entry points and contract basis including full time and part time employment.
“The introduction of a mixed goods retailer in the unit will increase consumer choice.
“The proposed store will introduce a garden centre to the shopping park, broadening the choice of goods sold.”
In his report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “The amalgamated unit will provide suitable relocation space for an existing town centre operator, B&M.
“The main issue to assess is whether the proposal has a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Southport Town Centre.
“It is considered that on balance, subject to an agreement ensuring the continued trading of B&M from the Lord Street store to the expiry of their current lease (December 2025), the proposal will not have a significant adverse impact and therefore complies with Local Plan policy.”
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