A BUILDING which has been vacant for two years looks set for an overhaul to create five new restaurants, two shops and 24 apartments.

Despite attempts to lure large retailers such as Primark to the premises, the former Co-op department store, in Long Wyre Street, Colchester has been empty since 2014.

But yesterday owners, the East of England Co-operative Society, lodged plans to revive the 1920s building.

The proposals show five restaurant units would be created on the ground floor and first floor while two small retail units on the ground floor are also planned.

The apartments would be built on the upper floors for the three-storey building, which was home to department store Townrow between 2011 and 2014.

A planning statement submitted on behalf of the Co-op to Colchester Council states: “The proposed scheme presents the ideal opportunity for redevelopment of this vacant building which is no longer suited to modern retail requirements in its existing format, to a mixed use comprising of A1 [retail] and A3 [restaurant] use on the ground floor and first floor.”

It adds: “The proposed A3 uses on the ground and first floor will naturally fit into the current uses along the street and add to the active street frontage, creating a vibrant feel to the area whilst the reformatted A1 units are considered more marketable and will also contribute to the mix of provision on offer.”

Agents do admit, however, the plans would break a council policy which prohibits any more than two consecutive non-retail units to be built.

That policy also states at least 85 per cent of premises fronts in the town centre should be for shops.

If the plans are given the green light, the Co-op has indicated it is willing to hand over £20,000 to be used exclusively to “enhance the public realm” in the eastern side of the town centre.

Bosses there state the cash would “assist in improving the marketability of the residential and retail units within the scheme”.

The planning statement adds: “This regeneration will help to boost the area in terms of trade as well as potentially increasing footfall along this street.

“The retention of retail units on a smaller format is a positive aspect of the development, providing continuity along the street.”

It adds the small units are “better suited in scale and format to modern retail demand”.

There is no indication which restaurants or shops would be in line to move in should Colchester Council give the planned scheme the green light.

Warning over town's 'speculative' landlords

A SENIOR councillor has sounded a warning over “speculative” town centre landlords who are out to line their pockets. 

Martin Goss chairs Colchester Council’s local plan committee, which is setting out where can and cannot be developed in the borough over the next 17 years.

Gazette:

Earlier this month, the committee confirmed a “retail hierarchy” policy aimed at making it easier for local authorities to reject change of use applications, which critics say are being used by “unscrupulous” landlords in order to boost their rents. 

Mr Goss said he had taken up the issue after speaking with regional manager of clothes giant Oasis, which closed its Colchester store last month.

It is set to make way for Byron Burgers. 

The Lib Dem councillor added: “Throwing up rents in order to attract higher-paying tenants just can’t be sustainable.

“The margins for retailers are thinner than for restaurants and it’s becoming unviable and some landlords are being unscrupulous and speculative.”

He added: “One way to curtail that is by looking at how easy it is to change the use of premises from retail to restaurant and that’s what this policy can do.

“In planning terms, you need good, sound reasons to refuse an application and this policy may just provide that.”

The committee chair added: “Retailers are having a tough time and they are just not going to pay the astronomical sums being hawked.”