Plans to redevelop Lancashire’s iconic Botany Bay and turn it into an “industrial and commercial space” have been resubmitted.
Developer and asset management company FI Real Estate Management (FIREM) has this week revealed that it plans to push forward with former proposals to transform the former shopping mill just off the M61 near Chorley.
It comes after the outlet village scheme was first scrapped at the end of 2020.
Back in January 2019, FIREM unveiled the plans for a new development on the historic site set to redefine the borough involving a 37 hectare mixed-use scheme providing 300,000 sq ft of employment land, 288 luxury new homes, and a brand new 300,000 sq ft fashion and lifestyle outlet village – but in November 2020, FIREM said these plans had been axed “due to the continued decline in the retail sector”.
This was something it says has been “further compounded by the pandemic”.
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Now, following a virtual public consultation event in November, the developer has decided to resubmit the proposal for the 21-acre site, which is said to remain “largely unchanged”.
The plans for the scheme – which has been designed by MCAU and planning consultants, John Francis Planning – propose 405,386 sq ft of industrial and commercial space, which will deliver a total of 33 individual units for employment and commercial uses.
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FI Real Estate Management (FIREM)FI Real Estate Management (FIREM)
Within the plans, it’s said that 36,996 sqm of commercial floorspace will be designated for “light industrial uses”.
The wider space has then been allocated for landscaping, pedestrian routes, and onsite parking.
On top of all that, FIREM has also said that the regeneration plans for Botany Bay Business Park have the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to the local and surrounding areas.
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Speaking on the resubmitting of the plans this week, a spokesperson for FIREM said: “We’re confident that our proposals for the redevelopment of Botany Bay are not only consistent with the site’s heritage but will also deliver a host of new job and commercial opportunities in Chorley.
“This sector in the North West has seen continued growth for a sustained period, even throughout the pandemic.
“We’ve already witnessed a growing interest in the business space offered by these units since our last announcement, having received a number of inbound enquiries from a variety of businesses”.
Featured Image – Geograph / Ian S
Business
IKEA announces decision to close popular Greater Manchester site
Emily Sergeant
It’s the end of the road for one of IKEA’s popular Greater Manchester sites.
The Swedish furniture giant has announced its decision to close its ‘Plan and Order Point’ over in Stockport in a couple of weeks time.
The store – which is located in Stockport town centre’s Merseyway Shopping Centre – launched to huge success back in March 2023, and at the time, was the second of this ‘test and trial’ format to open in the UK, becoming a smaller space dedicated to kitchen and home planning, as well as ordering items.
IKEA says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ which plan to take this conceptual format in a direction to ‘better suit the needs of UK customers’.
IKEA is closing its close popular Stockport site this month / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
Since the opening of the Stockport Plan and Order Point, IKEA claims it has seen an increased demand for Click and Collect services, a desire by customers to shop a smaller selection of home furnishing accessories, as well as the ability to return goods to physical IKEA units, and this is all something which the current location is unable to offer.
Learning from this change in consumer habits, the company says its future Plan and Order Point openings – including in those in other northern cities like Hull and York – will offer these services.
IKEA says it also remains ‘committed’ to trialling new formats, such as its upcoming small stores, one of which will open in nearby Chester later this year.
Luckily for IKEA fans, the retailer has confirmed that its major Greater Manchester store in Ashton-under-Lyne, as well as the neighbouring store in Warrington, will remain open as normal, offering all the services available at Stockport and more.
The Swedish furniture says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ about customer needs / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
In addition to the upcoming opening of a smaller store in Chester, IKEA has revealed that the North West continues to be an area of interest for future expansion.
“After careful evaluation, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the IKEA Plan and Order Point at Merseyway Shopping Centre,” explained Salma Azad, who is one of IKEA’s Area Managers.
“In the two years since opening, we’ve taken valuable learnings, including how our customers prefer to meet IKEA, and we’ll take these insights into future openings, to serve shoppers in a more impactful way.”
Thanks to last year’s Click and Collect expansion, Stockport residents can now pick up purchases from Tesco Extra Stockport and Tesco Extra Stretford, as well as the Manchester store and the upcoming small store in Chester.
Stockport Plan and Order Point’s final day of trading will be on 16 June.
Guide Dogs desperately needs people in Greater Manchester to ‘foster’ its dogs while they’re in training
Emily Sergeant
Guide Dogs desperately needs Greater Manchester residents to take on the volunteering role of Fosterers.
The charity – which has been providing mobility support, and raising awareness of and campaigning for the blind and partially sighted since 1934 – relies on the help of its network of its more than 14,000 volunteers across the UK to help it make a difference and improve the lives of those with visual impairments.
And Fosterers are a vital part of the journey for the hundreds of dogs trained each year.
As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll be giving a dog in training a loving home whilst they embark on their journey to become a guide dog.
You’ll get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, all without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.
Guide Dogs North West – which is based at the state-of-the-art training school in Atherton – has taken to social media this week to issue a desperate plea for new Fosterers to join its volunteer network in our region, and is calling on dog lovers who can commit to the important role to get in touch.
“Calling dog lovers around Atherton,” the post on Instagram reads.
“We desperately need volunteer Fosterers to look after our trainee guide dogs during the evenings and weekends. We take care of the training and costs, such as food and vet bills, and you take care of the play time and cuddles.”
One of the most crucial parts of the Fosterer role is being able to drop the dog off between 8-9am and pick them up between 5-6pm at a Guide Dogs site or a site near a trainers’ home each weekday – which means you will likely need to live nearby to the Atherton training centre or be fully-committed to travelling.
Guide Dogs desperately needs people in Greater Manchester to ‘foster’ its dogs while they’re in training / Credit: Guide Dogs
What will you get in return? Well, volunteering is a two-way street, so in return for your time, you’ll get a dedicated volunteer manager / key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with the charity.
And of course, you’ll get lots of cuddles from the new four-legged friend you’ve welcomed into your home.
This could be a chance to play your part in changing lives.
The Manc -
20th April 2021 
