A planning application has been submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council for the variation of condition attached to planning restrictions by the former Eden District Council placed on the development over 12 years ago of retail units at Castle Retail Park on Ullswater Road. If the variation of conditions is approved it could see Mountain Warehouse relocate half a mile up the road from its current Brunswick Road store to Castle Retail Park offering the business a bigger ground floor retail space allowing it to sell all its range on a single ground floor level.
Mountain Warehouse has had a presence in Penrith since December 2011 and wants to continue to trade in the town. However, the unit Mountain Warehouse currently occupy adjacent to Booths on Brunswick Road is split over two floors creating a barrier to retail sales, as many customers don’t visit the first floor. A single-story retail unit with the sales area all at ground level is therefore required by the company, with adjacent car parking.
Mountain Warehouse’s current Brunswick Road unit has a 566sqm gross internal area – 290sqm on the ground floor and 276sqm on the first floor, the Castle Retail Park will provide the business with a 653.7sqm gross internal floor area, with adjacent car parking.
The application submitted to the council asks to change the conditions placed with the original planning permission that currently restricts the sale of goods from the units to bulky comparison goods consisting of building and DIY products; garden products and plants; furniture, carpets, floor coverings and household furnishings; electrical and gas products; vehicle accessories and parts; bicycles and cycle accessories; office supplies, computers and accessories; caravan/tent/camping and boating equipment; pet products and any other goods which are ancillary and related to the main range of goods permitted. The condition has previously been varied to allow the sale of pets and pet products that enabled Pets at Home to open in the unit next door.
The change of use application has been submitted to the council to expand the range of goods that can be sold in the unit to allow Mountain Warehouse to trade from Unit 3 Castle Retail Park at Ullswater Road in Penrith.
Unit 3 has been empty after Carpetright closed in August 2022. Mountain Warehouse, currently trading from a unit adjacent to Booths on Brunswick Road, and has according to the application shown a strong interest in taking the unit.
The company remain committed to Penrith and are seeking a single storey, ground floor unit in Penrith for a relocation, with Unit 3 Castle Retail Park being identified as being commercially suitable. But the current planning condition does not represent the full range of goods available in Mountain Warehouse stores.
The application has been submitted to the council by The Welbeck Estates Company Ltd who owns the development and decision by the council should be made in early May.
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