A 24-hour McDonald’s takeaway and restaurant could open at Central 12 retail park in Southport.
Letters have been sent to local residents in the area about the suggested change.
The new venture, if planning permission is granted, would be situated inside the former Royal Doulton shop at Unit 11 at the site, next door to Costa Coffee and Mountain Warehouse, which has been vacant since the Royal Doulton china shop closed in the early 2000s.
A planning application for the change of use of the building has been submitted to Sefton Council, arguing that a change of use is needed to bring the unit back to life due to a lack of interest from retail operators.
It would add to two other existing McDonbald’s outlets, at Ocean Plaza retail park and on Town Lane in Kew.
The former McDonald’s outlet on the corner of Eastbank Street and King Street in Southport town centre closed in October 2014 and has remained empty since then.
No mention of McDonald’s is made in the application form or in the covering letter to Sefton’s Planning department.
But it is believed McDonald’s, as the potential operator, is mentioned in the letter to local residents.
Proposed floor plans for the site present further clues, with a McDelivery service area and McDelivery counter to the front right of the building, next to Costa Coffee.
Customers would walk through the front door and into a 140 sq m dining area.
To the rear of the venue are spaces for a Crew Room, offices, freezer, chiller, dry store, female crew change, male crew change, male WC, female WC, and accessible WC.
To the right of the proposed restaurant is space for a 107 sq m kitchen area.
Owners of Central 12 believe a hospitality business should be allowed to operate there due to “a lack of interest from retailers over the last two decades, we see no other realistic way of leasing the premises”.
Central 12 was bought in a deal believed to be worth £27 million in May this year by LCP, part of M Core.
Earlier this year, Stand Up For Southport revealed how discount retailer B&M is planning to relocate to the site from its current premises on Lord Street, creating 30 jobs.
A planning application has now been submitted to Sefton Council to change the use of Unit 11 from retail to a restaurant / takeaway use.
Opening hours included in the application are for 24 hours, seven days a week.
In the submission, Tom Wyatt of Harvey Spack Field said:
“The subject premises comprises a retail unit of approximately 4,562 sq ft arranged over ground floor only and is located on Central 12 Retail Park, Southport.
“We understand the subject unit has been vacant for over 15 years following closure of the Royal Doulton store in the early 2000s.
“Despite continuous marketing throughout the years, no previous owner has been able to secure a new tenant.
“Previous recent attempts by the previous owner to secure a tanning salon in part fell away during the course of last year.
“Upon our marketing instruction, Harvey Spack Field (HSF) and McMullen RE (MRE) have focused the campaign on direct discussions with all likely retail occupiers, as well as an open marketing campaign.
“From a review of the result of this marketing campaign and the wider advertising, we found very little demand from retailers with the vast majority of interest coming from quick service food operators.
“Based upon a lack of interest from retailers over the last 15 years, we see no other realistic way of leasing the subject premises without first securing a change of use of Sui Generis (Takeway).
“We trust the above provides a clear picture of the predicament our client is in with the subject premises.”
New owners LCP are currently speaking with national retailers about filling the three vacant units at Central 12, including the one vacated by the former Outfit store and the former Royal Doulton site.
The 13-unit shopping park, located on Derby Road, close to Southport Railway Station, is anchored by an ASDA superstore. It comprises 162,143 sq ft of open convenience retail with retailers including The Range, Poundland, Boots and Next.
The site also has a car park for 636 vehicles.
It was previously home to the Southport Steamport museum.
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