UP to 60 new jobs could be created as plans for a multi-million pound retail development have been announced in a rural market town.

Plans for the new development, comprising a Lidl discount foodstore and a Home Bargains store, have been proposed for the former Addisons auction house site in Staindrop Road, Barnard Castle.

The Northern Echo:

DEVELOPMENT: The new stores could be placed on the former Addison's site

The plans, proposed by the Consolidated Property Group (CPG) will go on show to the public later this month.

The public consultation display for the proposals will be held at The Witham Hall, in Horse Market, Barnard Castle, on Tuesday, November 27, between 2pm and 8pm.

The proposed retail scheme will comprise a Lidl discount foodstore of 1,940 square metres or 20,882 sq ft, a Home Bargains store of 1,396 square metres or 15,000 sq ft, and a total of 144 car parking spaces including 12 for parent and toddlers, nine disabled and four electric vehicle charging spaces.

 

All vehicle access will be off Staindrop Road on the A688.

Members of the CPG consultant design team will also be on hand during the day to answer questions and explain the new scheme while residents living immediately adjacent to the site have also been invited to a special preview from noon until 2pm the same day.

CPG’s managing director, Martin Ridgway, said: “This is an opportunity for the local community to view the plans and ask questions before we submit a detailed planning application. The auction house site has been vacant for three years and this development will bring back into use the redundant site.

“There has always been a requirement for another foodstore in Barnard Castle to ensure trade is retained in the town and to offer more food retail choice in the town. It will prevent people having to drive further afield to places such as Bishop Auckland to do their regular household shopping."

Mr Ridgway said all "existing mature boundary landscaping will be supplemented with new landscaping introduced where necessary".

As part of the ecological measures open, closed and starling nest boxes will also be introduced.

Michael King, clerk at Barnard Castle Town Council, said a representative from the scheme attended the council's latest meeting on Monday and councillors welcomed plans to engage with the community through a consultation but were "reserving their judgement on what's proposed".