The consortium behind the plans to regenerate a large area of Flemingate, Beverley, has welcomed the decision by East Riding planning councillors to approve its £120m scheme.
It was a decision that will lead to an exciting new chapter in the economic and social history of the town
, said a spokesman.
The consortium, consisting of the Hull-based Wykeland Group, C P Group, of Hessle, and Quintain Estates and Development PLC, of London, has been granted detailed planning consent for a mixed-use development on just over 10 acres of former industrial land.
It will include 176,308 sq.ft. of retail space anchored by Debenhams, a five-screen cinema complex operated by Parkway Cinemas, an 80-bed Premier Inn hotel, the new 60,000 sq. ft. Beverley campus of the East Riding College, 20,000 sq. ft. of new office space, a range of restaurants, car parking for 556 cars and a Community Centre.
Around 700 new permanent jobs will be created with a further 320 during the 20-month construction phase.
An archaeological survey of the site by Humberfield Archaeology and remediation work, costing in excess of £1.45m, is nearing completion and now with planning consent the consortium can look forward to the start of the build programme during 2013.
Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Wykeland, said: The new Flemingate will be the biggest single project seen in Beverley for many years. It will bring new life and energy to an area that had become largely derelict after the closure of the Clariant chemical works and the Museum of Army Transport, formerly the site of Hodgsons Tannery. The retail element, led by anchor retailer Debenhams, will attract shoppers who might otherwise head for York, Leeds and Meadowhall, while the combination of new restaurants, additional car parking and job creation will enhance Beverley’s already excellent reputation as a major shopping and tourist destination.
He added: This plan has been many years in the making. More recently, it has involved a large team of town planners, architects, retail consultants, transport and highway consultants, archaeologists and remediation contractors and they all deserve a big thank you for their efforts.
Over the past seven months, during a rigorous public consultation process, we have also had a terrific response from many Beverlonians and local businesses who have recognised the potential benefits our scheme will provide – more jobs, more retail choice, more opportunities for business-to-business trade. This consent is a major step towards delivery and our task now is to turn our prophesy into reality.
