Three major retailers could be coming to Ely in a new, out of town development, Spotted in Ely can reveal.
A planning application has been submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council for budget supermarket chain Lidl, bargain store B&M and DIY chain Wickes to eventually be established on 10.69 hectares of land at Octagon Business Park, near Angel Drove.
Supermarket giant Tesco had initially planned to move to the site but pulled out in 2015 after suffering financial losses. Healy Investments has now applied to develop the land, saying it would create the equivalent of 604 full-time jobs.
The application includes 313 car parks, 18 disabled parking spaces and 66 cycle parks.
It includes a new, stand alone Lidl store, which would take up 29,790 square foot over two floors, as well as a 20,000 square foot, one floor building housing B&M.
The third proposed unit is a 26,000 square foot, two-floor building housing DIY store Wickes.
The application seeks approval for 50,000 square foot of office units.
The Ely Southern Bypass, currently under construction and due to be completed in 2018, would be located directly to the south of the site, with the nearest bus stop being at Tesco, about 600 metres to the northeast.
In 2001 planning permission was granted to turn the site into a business park.
The most recent planning application approved on the site was granted in 2013, for Tesco to develop a superstore.
The site is located on the southern edge of Ely and consists of lowland agricultural fields.
Healy Investments’ application states: “The introduction of the By-Pass into this setting creates an urban edge to southern extent of Ely which will separate Ely from the adjoining Fenland character present to the south.
“When viewed from the northern aspect and the urban edge of Ely the By-Pass will provide an urbanising backdrop to the proposed development.”
The applicant adds that by planting trees and adding landscaping to the site, the setting would be enhanced, “creating an appropriate interface between the proposals and the surrounding fenland character”.
The application can be viewed here.
