NEW FOOD SUPERSTORE SET FOR CARLISLE

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Carlisle could be in line for another new food superstore - this time in London Road.

City councillors are expected to grant planning permission for a Sainsbury’s in Caldewgate today (FRI) while Tesco already has consent for one on the Viaduct Estate.

Now another proposal has come forward from Possfund Custodian Trustees, the Royal Mail’s pension fund, which owns St Nicholas Gate Retail Park in London Road.

It wants to use existing units there to create a food superstore of between 45,000sq ft and 80,000sq ft.

There are two schemes, one using the former MFI showroom and the adjoining Brantano footwear store. Brantano would have to move.

The alternative plan would use the old Do It All/Focus DIY unit, part of which has been let to Netto.

No supermarket chain has been signed up as yet but the site could tempt the likes of Asda as well as smaller operators such as or the Co-op.

Savills, the property company acting as agent for the pension fund, has submitted planning applications to Carlisle City Council.
Its covering letter says: “The proposal will improve the distribution and choice of food superstores in Carlisle.

“Presently, the majority of food shopping trips are carried out at large superstores on arterial roads from the city centre [Tesco to the east, and Asda and Morrisons to the north].

“The proposal therefore provides an opportunity to balance out this distribution by providing a foodstore that would be readily accessible to residents approaching Carlisle from the south.”

The council approved a £10m scheme to revamp the retail park in April.

This involves demolition of some units and building new ones to almost double the floorspace, creating 200 jobs.

But Savills now says this scheme is not viable without a foodstore.

Planning conditions state that only bulky goods can be sold at St Nicholas Gate Retail Park such as household or office furniture, DIY or electrical goods, leisure products and pet supplies.

Savills’ letter says: “There is little prospect that the scheme can be delivered within the parameters of the current bulky goods restrictions as there is only limited demand for such space in Carlisle.

“To ensure further investment an anchor [food] retailer is needed that will trigger investment at the park“This would help to attract other tenants and act as a catalyst for further investment along the Botchergate/London Road corridor, which is in need of regeneration.”

Brantano, meanwhile, has no plans to move.

It issued a statement which suggests the planning applications may be a speculative move to boost the site’s value - a view contested by Savills, which says it is deadly serious.

Brantano said: “We are aware of the recent application to gain planning permission for a supermarket at St Nicholas Gate Retail Park.
“This has been a long-term objective of the landlord.

“Planning applications are made for various reasons, not only to promote development but also to increase the capital value of investments.

“No formal approach has been made to Brantano by the landlord regarding this recent application.

“We have a long-term lease on our unit and will continue to trade from this store.”

The 9.9-acre retail park was established 21 years ago but now only 38 people work there and almost two-thirds of the floorspace is empty.