Work will start early next year on a £40M out of town superstore and industrial development at Altira Business Park in Herne Bay, Kent, following planning approval from Canterbury City Council.
The scheme, being developed by Urban&Civic via its leisure and retail subsidiary, Terrace Hill, will create around 225 jobs during the construction phase. Plans consist of a 99,659 sq ft foodstore and 16 pump petrol filling station, along with 32,000 sq ft of industrial development including new business units.
Both the new superstore and petrol filling station have been pre-let to Sainsbury's, while Terrace Hill said it intends to develop 20,000 sq ft of industrial space ahead of the completion of the foodstore in early 2016.
A further 10,000 square feet of business units are proposed to be built after this, in response to anticipated demand.
The scheme will also see investment in local infrastructure including improvements to pedestrian facilities at nearby Blacksole Bridge and parking facilities for up to 585 cars.
Urban&Civic property director Philip Leech said: “We have worked closely with Canterbury City Council and local business groups to ensure that this scheme has a positive impact on the town of Herne Bay.
“The new scheme will create a large number of new jobs for Herne Bay, as well as providing significant investment into the local area.”
The planning application will now be referred to the Department of Communities and Local Government, following which Canterbury City Council’s recommendations should be approved within 21 days.
Urban&Civic said it will either build the development itself or in joint venture with a partner.
