Ambitious new retail and leisure park in Worksop could create 100 jobs
Plans for a major new development at Shireoaks, including a Marks and Spencer food hall, a petrol filling station with shop which would be operated by EG on the Move, a Starbucks drive-thru coffee shop, and a padel sports facility with clubhouse, are to be considered by Bassetlaw Council.
‘Dukeries Park’ would also include an EV parking hub, and 287 customer car parking spaces, along with an over all landscaping scheme.
Once fully developed, it is expected that over 100 full and part-time jobs for local people will be created at the site, with additional jobs linked to the construction period.
The new 18,700 sq ft MandS fresh market-style foodhall would anchor the development, offering the full food range, including fresh produce from MandS’ Select Farm partners – over 80 of which are based in Nottinghamshire - and their Remarkable Value and Bigger Pack Better Value ranges.
The store would also offer an in-store bakery, dedicated Flower and Wine shops and a Click and Collect point.
Community consultation held earlier this year demonstrated significant support for Dukeries Park.
More than 500 people responded to the consultation, with 89 per cent indicating support for the proposals, and many citing the return of MandS to Worksop as an exciting prospect.
Others welcomed the potential jobs and investment into the town, and the addition of new leisure facilities.
Mark Rothery, managing director of Rothstone Estates, said: “If approved, Dukeries Park will deliver a high-quality retail and leisure destination in a location well-placed to serve Worksop and the surrounding area.
"It is quite clear that the return of MandS to Worksop is very much welcomed by the community, and we are also really pleased with the positive response to the padel court and wider development in general.
"I’d like to thank everyone who responded to the community consultation and helped us to shape the proposals. We look forward to working with Bassetlaw District Council as the planning application progresses.”
To cover around 6.78 acres of land, the proposed development is on unused open land off the A57 Gateford Road, and north of Shireoaks Common, with direct access to Worksop town centre, lying 1.2 miles south-east from the site, and easy connection to the wider road network, including the A1 and M1.
There is a vehicle entry point to the front of the site from the A57, and the surrounding area, states the application, is 'characterised by a mix of residential, commercial and open land uses'.
Within the application, the development is described as a potential 'modern, well positioned and exciting addition to the local area which regenerates and
repurposes vacant land', that will create job opportunities locally, and have a 'sensitive contemporary design that respects the materials, detailing and essential
qualities of Worksop and the immediate surrounding context'.
Strong pedestrian routes form part of the plan.
If planners approve the proposals, the developers expect to begin preliminary site works by the end of this year.
Further information about the proposals can be found at http://www.dukeriespark.co.uk/.