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E-Bulletin, 20/01/2015
Have Your Say on the Worcester Woods Retail Park Application
As you may be aware, a planning application has been submitted for the Worcester Woods Retail Park would include John Lewis, Next at Home, M&S and Sainsbury’s. Full details of the application are available here and we would encourage any business who has a view on the proposals to submit their thoughts. The key links within the large range of information that the applicant has submitted are:
Employment Land & Viability Assessment (summary is on page 20) this considers the option of the land being used for non retail, commercial usage.
Economic Impact Assessment
Retail Statement (summary is on page 53)
The deadline for comments to be made is Wednesday 28th January.
In addition, we understand that Worcester City Council have commissioned another report to look at the impact on the city centre should the application be successful. Click here
Newspaper reports on the application may also be of interest to you.
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E-Bulletin, 08/01/2015
Dear BID Business
Please may I draw your attention to the attached letter regarding an invitation to meet to discuss the Worcester Woods Retail Park ahead of the imminent Planning Committee where it will be determined.
Many thanks
Adrian Field
Head of Worcester BID
Letter to BID businesses / News post (23/10/2014)
E-bulletin, 05/11/2014
Worcester Woods Retail Park Q&A with Developers
Proposed Development Worcester Woods Retail Park
As you will be aware from a letter sent to your businesses, other previous correspondence and local media coverage there is a proposal to create a 240,000 sq.ft. retail park south of Newtown Road by the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. This would include John Lewis, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Next at Home stores. A public consultation exercise took place in September by the developers to which some businesses attended. Details of the plans can be found at www.worcesterwoodsretail.co.uk
Having spoken to many businesses regarding this proposal, Worcester BID has arranged a meeting with the developers Land Securities so that you can raise any concerns or questions with them. As well as inviting all BID businesses, invitations to this event are also being sent to relevant Councillors including the City Council Planning Committee, planning officers and the media.
It is crucial that your views are aired to these stakeholders before any planning application is submitted. Speaking with BID businesses, it has so far generally caused a lot of concern about how it will impact on the city centre. Our role is to ensure that businesses are informed of the proposal and can have their views heard as well as representing the BID businesses where there is a strong consensus.
The meeting will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 11th November in the Lecture Theatre, All Saints Building, Heart of Worcestershire College, Deansway and we want as many people to attend as possible. To get an idea of numbers for capacity purposes, we would be grateful if you could let us know if you are attending by emailing info@worcesterbid.com along with the names of any attendees and your business name. Otherwise, please let us know on 01905 731612. Please note that numbers are limited so it will be on a first come first served basis. Feel free to pass this email on to a colleague where relevant.
If you are unable to attend but wish to make your views known or have a question to ask the developers, please also let me know.
We look forward to your anticipated involvement in this very important consultation exercise.
E-Bulletin, 24/10/2014
Worcester Woods Retail Park Consultation Meeting for You
Many thanks to those who let us know their thoughts on the proposal which will include a John Lewis, Next at Home, M&S and Sainsburys on land near to The Worcestershire Royal Hospital. We have arranged a meeting for BID businesses to air their views and ask questions to representatives from Land Securities who are putting the proposals forward. The event takes place on Tuesday 11th November at 6pm in the Lecture Theatre in the All Saints Building of the Heart of Worcestershire College on Deansway. This is a big opportunity for businesses to make themselves heard and we will be also inviting the press, members of the City Council Planning Committee and other Council officers along so that they can hear your thoughts. We are very keen for businesses not to miss this opportunity so please let us know if you want to attend by emailing info@worcesterbid.com or calling 01905 731612.
E-Bulletin, 08/10/2014
Worcester Woods Retail Park – Latest
Thanks to those people who responded to us about their views on the proposed Worcester Woods retail park development which Land Securities are planning. Just as an update, we have asked for a meeting for BID businesses to air their views and ask questions to Land Securities and hopefully Planning Officers and Councillors. Land Securities have agreed to our request and will be getting back to us about suitable dates. We will let you know as soon as a date is set. To view their website, click here It’s All Yours
We recently launched our fantastic new Uniquely Yours book at a packed Commandery as part of our Uniquely Worcester campaign. The book, which features 151 independent BID businesses as well as features on BID business owners and a directory of all BID businesses is being distributed far and wide to ensure maximum exposure. An online version can be viewed here and is available in many BID businesses. If you would like copies, please let us know by emailing info@worcesterbid.com Feedback from business has been phenomenal and we would always like to hear your thoughts. The full story is here.
E-Bulletin, 19/09/2014
Consultation Event for Proposed Retail Park Development at Worcester Woods
Please don’t forget that the public consultation event for the proposed 240,000sq.ft retail park at Worcester Woods (near the Worcestershire Royal Hospital) takes place today until 7pm and tomorrow (Saturday) between 10am and 3pm at the Lower Ground Hall of the Hive. It includes plans for a new John Lewis and next stores.
It is crucial that businesses are aware of this development and have their say on the proposals. A website www.worcesterwoodsretail.co.uk outlines some of the detail. We would be very grateful if you could also provide us with your feedback so that the BID can represent the views of BID businesses when it formally responds. If you have comments, please let me know by emailing info@worcesterbid.com or calling me on 01905 731612.
Regards
Adrian Field
Head of Worcester BID
E-Bulletin, 11/09/2014
Public Consultation Regarding Worcester Woods Retail Development
As you may be aware, Land Securities are looking at developing land to the south of Newtown Road known as Worcester Woods into a 240,000sq.ft. shopping destination which could include a John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Next and Sainsburys. A planning application is due to be submitted by the end of the year and they have just announced a public exhibition which will take place between noon and 7pm on Friday 19th September on the Lower Ground Floor of the Hive as well as between 10am and 3pm at the same venue on Saturday 20th September. The BID Board are keen to inform all BID businesses about this public consultation event and to encourage you to attend, find out more and have your say on the development as you may have an opinion on how it might affect your businesses and the city centre generally, positively or negatively. The website for the development is www.worcesterwoodsretail.co.uk which will be updated following the public exhibition to include detailed plans.
This is a high profile, large development and we would be delighted to receive any feedback you have, for or against, so that the BID Board can get a feeling of what businesses think to the plans. If you have any comments, please email Adrian.field@worcesterbid.com or call 01905 731612.
