Enterprise-Rent-A-Car has revealed plans to expand in Southport with an investment of up to a quarter of a million pounds and new jobs created.
The global vehicle rental company has submitted a planning application to take over the whole of the site previously used by Norwood Car Sales Ltd at 170 Norwood Road in Southport.
Enterprise-Rent-A-Car has operated from part of the site in the past but now wants to enhance its offering to local motorists.
The plans would include alterations up the ‘shopfront’, including the implementation of a wash bay, the addition of car parking and vehicle storage, and new signage.
The number of parking spaces would be increased from zero to 24 for cars and zero to 8 for vans, while employees would increase from 6 to 8.
Benefits of the scheme would include: the regeneration of an underutilised site; a modern, active and commercially viable use; investment to secure the site’s long term future; employment generation; flexible provision of alternative sustainable transport modes for the benefit of local residents and businesses – sustainable vehicles by the hour or day; a modern, evolving fleet keeping pace with environmental technology; and reducing local parking pressure and air quality concerns by promoting a reduction in private vehicle ownership.
In a submission to Sefton Council, Emma Rawson Senior Planner at consultants Planning Prospects said: “There are significant and tangible benefits associated with Enterprise’s proposed development to extend the existing branch, through utilising an underutilised brownfield site into a viable active and employment generating use, that will positively contribute towards the local area.”
The statement added: “Enterprise’s proposals here represent significant investment by the company at this otherwise vacant site following the relocation of the previous occupier.
“To put their investment into context, a new branch typically requires investment of between £500,000 and £750,000 initially to deliver the site ready for occupation, on top of investment in supporting supply chains and service providers and continued investment arising from continued and improved operational use at the site.
“Additionally, investment in the local area generally by Enterprise’s employees and customers, for example, will be generated throughout Enterprise’s occupation and operational lifespan. “Enterprise’s proposed use is employment generating, the current branch employs 6 full time employees, the expansion will allow for a further 2 full time employees. Additional jobs will be created, and sustained, in supporting services and industries also.
“The application site includes the existing Enterprise branch which occupies approximately 40% of the site, with Norwood Car Sales occupying the remaining 60%. Enterprise has been operational on this Site in excess of 20 years. The car sales garage already has a car wash bay located in the rear section of the site. The existing car sales garage is relocating, in turn vacating the site, therefore Enterprise is sustainably expanding into the remainder.
“This application is being submitted on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK Ltd, a global vehicle rental company. Enterprise is one of the largest transportation solution providers in the world offering customers local and airport car rentals, car sharing, exotic car hire and van hire, along with a Flex-E-Rent service, providing business solutions for specialised vehicle needs, for example, temperature-controlled vans and accessible minibuses for example.
“The company operates in more than 9,500 locations across nearly 100 countries.
“Enterprise also has the largest Car Club network in the UK providing its members with 24/7 access to its cars and vans without the need to own their own. It has been estimated that car clubs produce 72% lower emissions than the average UK car and each of Enterprise’s Car Club vehicles takes around 20 private cars off the road.
“The proposed development will support the sustainable expansion of Enterprise’s business and provide a sustainable transport solution for local residents and workers as an alternative to private car ownership.
“The land at the front of the site will be used for formal parking for rental vehicles. The existing branch office will expand to occupy both the existing and the neighbouring office currently used by Norwood Car Sales.
“The frontage will be amended as part of the proposed development to reflect the expansion, but the location and size of the existing building will principally remain the same. Within this office, Enterprise will administer its rental vehicles.
“Behind the office, the existing wash bay will be replaced by a new wash bay, which is slightly higher than the existing. Therefore in practicality this will remain the same and the slight increase in height will provide betterment as the taller vehicles will be able to be washed inside, as opposed to outside as they currently are. Within this wash bay, Enterprise will prepare its vehicles for use. The remainders of the yard to the rear will be predominantly used for rental vehicle car parking,
“Enterprise’s required hours of operation are: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm and Sunday closed.
“Thirty three (33) parking spaces will be provided within the Site, which includes 1 DDa bay and 8 larger bays to accommodate Enterprise’s rental vans.
“Enterprise requires the site to be secure, particularly out of opening hours. This means that fences, gates and bollards will be required around the site boundary.
“In terms of customer and/or staff parking requirements, Enterprise offers a Pick-Up/Drop-Off service to every customer. In addition, Enterprise does not permit customers to park on site. Similarly, in the majority of instances, Enterprise’s employees will not need to park their own vehicles at the branch, as they routinely move Enterprise’s rental vehicles between branches at the beginning and end of each working day – and use those vehicles to travel to and from work.”
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