Plans to build £10 million new Home Bargains Store next to ASDA in Grangetown

New £10 million plans have been lodged with Sunderland City Council to build a gigantic Home Bargains store near Leechmere Road in Grangetown.

Plans for the site, which sits near an existing Asda superstore, include the demolition of a “reservoir structure” which once served a nearby paper mill, as well as landscaping to make way for the new retail unit.

The £10million development, first announcedby Fintry Estates and Hargreaves Land last year, consists of a Home Bargains store sized at 2,804 sqm gross floorspace.

Those behind the scheme have said it will regenerate the former industrial site that has been vacant for many years and blighted by fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

According to planning documents submitted to the city council in January, 2023, the proposals are expected to create around 60 full time equivalent jobs and other “spin-off employment”.

This includes local businesses and others in the supply chain, and construction employment associated with the development.

A planning and retail statement submitted to council officials notes the plans would provide 162 parking spaces (including 10 accessible spaces and around 10 parent and child spaces), as well as pedestrian links, cycle parking and electric vehicle chargers.

It was also confirmed that developers had looked at other potential sites for the Home Bargains store in Grangetown and Ryhope, but ruled them out as they were unsuitable.

This was because of issues relating to “size, location and existing and proposed uses”.

The planning and retail statement added: “The proposed development would regenerate a previously developed and vacant site, which is overgrown and has been subject to anti-social behaviour.

“It would also generate a range of other economic and sustainability benefits, by creating new employment opportunities and enhancing the range of retail provision for local residents”.

Developers, in a design and access statement, added a service yard has been positioned to the rear of the proposed Home Bargains store, to help “minimise the impact” on neighbours and to “ensure that it does not dominate the development”.

A decision on the planning application will be made once a period of council consultation has concluded.
Information provided on Sunderland City Council’s website states a decision is expected by the end of April, 2023.