Application to develop former B&Q site at Sandbrook Park includes a Travelodge Hotel

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Former B&Q site at Sandbrook Park

A planning application to develop the former B&Q site at Sandbrook Park includes a Travelodge Hotel, a Costa Coffee, a Kentucky Fried Chicken, a Wickes, a new B&M Home Store, and Bounce, a trampoline operator.

Unit A: Retail (including garden centre) - Wickes
Unit B: Retail - B&M Home Store
Unit C: Leisure - Bounce
Unit D: Café/Restaurant
Unit E: Café/Restaurant
Unit F: Shop/Café/Restaurant/Takeaway - KFC
Unit G: Hotel (66 bedrooms) - Travelodge
Unit H: Shop/Café/Restaurant/Takeaway - Costa

Wickes, the UK home improvement retailer established in 1972, operates over 200 stores throughout the UK.

B&M has over 450 stores and employs circa 20,000 staff. The business model of B&M Home Store is driven typically by selling branded goods at heavily discounted prices.

Bounce, a trampoline operator, intends the location to be for casual and regular users, clubs, corporate days, summer camps and party groups.

Travelodge is one of the biggest hotel brands in the UK, with approximately 525 hotels providing over 39,000 bedrooms throughout the UK, Spain and Ireland, employing over 8,000 staff.

Costa is an established coffee operator in the UK trading from around 2,000 stores. The proposed Costa drive-through will sell hot and cold drinks, and cold food for consumption both on and off the premises.

KFC is globally recognised and, in the UK, the Company trades from over 860 restaurants and employs 24,000 people. In recent years, KFC has introduced its new brand refresh, both in terms of its product range and the design and fit-out of its restaurants. The restaurant will be located within the existing car park adjacent to the proposed hotel.

A summary statement in the application reads: The scheme will enhance the park, resulting in new operators to Rochdale. This will result in the potential for linked trips and spin off benefits for existing operators, which would not otherwise occur. The economic, social and environment benefits associated with the proposed development are considered to be significant.

Economic: the scheme will encourage new retailers and café/restaurant, leisure and hotel uses to invest and trade from the area supporting growth and encouraging the reoccupation of the vacant unit. The proposed development will reduce the risk of other occupiers vacating the site, protecting existing jobs and creating new employment opportunities. The change of use will facilitate a new leisure operator not currently present in the Rochdale area and will make a significant contribution towards local economic growth.

Social: the Proposed Development will create new full and part time job opportunities (up to 180 jobs) which will be directed towards the local community. The scheme will improve the trading environment and attraction of the park by creating additional footfall and vitality. The scheme will also enhance the leisure offer within Rochdale for the benefits of local residents.

Environmental: the scheme will lead to the re-occupation of a large vacant unit within the existing park. The re-use of the existing building shell and materials (where possible) will also contribute towards the transition to a low carbon economy. The proposed development will also improve the appearance of the former B&Q unit by reducing the bulk and massing of the building and incorporating high quality materials. This will enhance the overall appearance of the park.

Download