Planning

Westway Retail Park

Brief

Keppie Planning and Development was appointed as planning consultant to Stockland to prepare a planning application in support of the erection of a retail warehouse park at a site, formerly the OKI factory at Westway, Cumbernauld.  The retail park was to be constructed following the relocation of OKI to new purpose built premises on an adjoining site.  Both the retail park and the replacement OKI factory were designed by Keppie.

Response

Keppie Planning and Development co-ordinated the production of evidence in support of this retail park, in association with Roderick MacLean Associates, who was preparing the Retail Impact Assessment.  We prepared the Supporting Planning Statement and the Sequential Test Analysis in compliance with Scottish Planning Policy SPP8 Retailing and Town Centres.  The proposal comprised a two phased retail park, phase one being some thirty one thousand square metres which comprised the largest single retail warehouse consent in Scotland.  The site further required an Access Strategy and Archaeological Assessment and Overview, due to the site’s proximity to the Antonine Wall and a Roman Fort.   North Lanarkshire Council agreed with the planning strategy that Westway complemented the town centre redevelopment (also designed and planned by Keppie).

Outcome

The outline application was granted in 2004 and a Reserved Matters Application followed, to maximise the flexibility of uses on the park and gain some units outwith the traditional bulky goods classification.  There was also a requirement for three fast food outlets.    The park was given enough flexibility in terms of type, size and number of units with mezzanine floors as required, following negotiations with the council.   This was a relaxation from the outline consent which enabled the client to actively market the site with a greater degree of flexibility.  Construction of phase one, as approved, commenced in 2006 and the park has been operational since December 2006.  Phase 1 is successfully trading and fully let.

Team