There’s big plans for Holbeach with a decision to purchase a town centre eyesore made this week while Aldi has launched a consultation on bringing a new store to the town.
Deputy leader at South Holland District Council, Nick Worth, agreed to a move of the ‘strategic purchase’ of a disused and run down building in Park Road.
Meanwhile discount superstore Aldi has announced it’s looking to open a store on a council-owned brownfield site off Fleet Street. The store says it hopes to create 40 jobs.
The decision record gives few details on the council’s purchase of the derelict Park Road property but says the move would ‘progress activity in respect of improvements to Holbeach Town Centre.’
Coun Worth said he could confirm the district council is looking at buying ‘an eyesore building on Parkb Road.’
It is believed to be the former JW Limming warehouse (pictured) which served the company’s Fleet Street shop.
The business closed in 2016 and the building has not been used since. A former planning application to build homes on the site was refused earlier this year.
Holbeach had been hoping to benefit from a £4m pot of government cash as part of the Future High Street Fund in 2020.
Among the plans mooted at the time was the creation of a ‘public realm’ at the rear of The Chequers and Park Road.
The idea was to encourage a cafe culture in ‘Chequers Yard’ and create space for markets, events and new retail space along with public toilets and new flats.
“The change for Holbeach will be really exciting and, I think, quite innovative,” Coun Worth said at the time of the July funding application.
South Holland District Council submitted the bid for Holbeach, but it wasn’t successful and alternative funding was being sought to allow the scheme to come to fruition.
Speaking at the time of the news in December 2020, Coun Worth said he was hopeful the project could still go ahead.
“We are already in conversations with private land owners in the Chequers Yard area to see what schemes we can bring forward,” he said.
Speaking this week he added that the move would see the district council buy the “eyesore building” as part of the “regeneration of Holbeach town centre.”
The full details of the deal, which is subject to a ‘call in’ have not been revealed and form part of a report for the council which is not public.
A decisions notice on the council’s website says: “To consider a decision in respect of the acquisition of land in Holbeach.”
- A consultation event on Aldi’s new site will take place at The Tigers Club on Wednesday, September 28 from 3pm to 7pm.
A spokesman for Aldi, said: “The proposals would deliver a new, high-quality Aldi food store with a net sales area of 1,315m2, alongside 112 car parking spaces including, dedicated disabled and parent & child bays, motorcycle and cycle parking as well as electric vehicle charging points.
“As customers continue to look for better-value products to help make their money go further, it is important that residents have access to a wide range of shopping facilities.
“Aldi’s proposal would provide an attractive, modern Aldi food store in an accessible location for the residents of Holbeach, improving customer choice and enhancing customer experience.”
Richard Thompson, Property Director for Aldi, said: “We are aware of the lack of discount supermarkets in Holbeach with customers having to travel further to complete their weekly food shop.
“A brand new, modern Aldi store on a site close to the town centre would not only vastly improve customer choice, but also encourage linked trips to other businesses in the town helping to retain spending in the area.
“As we bring forward these exciting plans for Holbeach, we would like to invite the local community to attend our public exhibition on Thursday 28th September at Tiger Bar and Social Club where members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.”
