Start of a new era for Woolworths site

Former Woolworths distribution/offices

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Outline plans for the former Woolworths site in Castleton have been on display for the last three days for locals to have a look at and air their views.

The redevelopment of the site is in the very early stages but the outline plans include an area for small warehouses, an area for family housing with a communal area and also a small supermarket.

The plans have been on show at the Mardale Suite of the Woolworths building on Smalley Street.

In September a planning application will be submitted and if it gets the go ahead then the redevelopment will begin, it could however be a couple of years before any work on the site begins.

Dan Yeates from Savills Planning Consultants said the response from the public had been ‘very positive.’

“We are pleased with the response from the public, many people have filled in comment forms and others have taken them away so we hope to receive more in the post.

“We will submit our plans in September, it will be early next year when we find out if the plans have been approved, and then the site will be advertised to developers to complete the work. We are hoping that there will be a lot of interest because this is such a key site.”

The public exhibition of the plans listed the main access points to the site and explained access made from Smalley Street, could only be on foot or on a bicycle and that all other access would be made via Royal Barn Road.

At this stage in the planning it isn’t known what the site will look like but only what it will include.

A former Woolworths employee of 30 years and Castleton resident Dave Jenkins explained what he thought of the plans: “Well, they look great on paper but will the plans be passed? We are used to hearing of proposals and then the next thing you know they aren’t happening.

“Obviously it isn’t going to happen overnight and there will be problems with traffic when they are knocking things down and they will need to close the roads.”

Mr Jenkins also voiced concerns about asbestos in the buildings and said it would be a worry if the developers knock the buildings down and asbestos enters the atmosphere.

Kathrine Brice welcomed the development in the hope it will bring jobs into Castleton. Ms Brice is also a former Woolworths employee, she said:  “I think it will be fine if in the long run it creates some jobs as the main issue is employment. The closure of the site has had a knock on affect on Castleton because the people who worked here would go out for their dinner or to get their hair done in the local shops.”