The coronavirus pandemic may be hurting many of the nation’s firms but Travelodge, Greggs, KFC and Costa Coffee are already eyeing new outlets at an out-of-town development in Plymouth.
The proposed development would go on former playing fields at Prince Rock, alongside the A374 Embankment Road, the main eastern route in and out of the city.
Plans have been drawn up for a Travelodge with a Greggs bakery alongside a drive-through Costa Coffee and KFC on a triangle of open land between the River Plym and Embankment Lane, which links the A374 to the A379 near Laira Bridge.
The proposals also include a second development phase for a public house, in addition to a cycle hire point and landscaping around the site, which is bordered by a “riverside cycle path”.
Cardiff-based consultants Kew Planning have been in talks with Plymouth City Council about the plans.
Their proposed development is right next door to another patch of derelict land where in 2019 plans were submitted for an out-of-town retail park conatining Lidl and Home Bargains stores and a large Marston’s pub-come-hotel.
The former Laira bus depot site was described in planning documents as “an eyesore” having sat empty since the bus station was knocked down more than a decade ago.
Various plans have been drawn up for that patch of land but none have come to reality. But now developer Hinton Properties wants to build Plymouth’s eighth Lidl store on the site, a 1,636sq m single-storey building.
Meanwhile, documents submitted to the council by Kew Planning give details of the newly announced adjacent scheme, although no planning application has yet been submitted.
The first phase would see the Travelodge hotel built on the site, with views over the river. The proposed number of bedrooms was initially put at 90, then 80 in a later planning statement.
The main block would include a Greggs bakery, and a drive-through Costa Coffee and KFC would be in separate buildings. The plans also include a picnic area.
The pub would be built in a later phase, on the edge of the site alongside Embankment Road.
Documents submitted with a pre-application inquiry show the city council views the land as a key gateway site for the city.
It wants to ensure any development is of high quality design and takes full advantage of the landscape and views over the river to Saltram Park.
The planning consultants say the location of the buildings is constrained by the site and needs of the occupiers.
But they said the hotel is positioned to overlook the river and there is a terrace for customers and public open space with seating for people to enjoy the views.
They said the original hotel design was improved to refer to “local traditions” and provide more interest and is reflected in the other buildings.
A pre-application inquiry allows development proposals to be discussed ahead of a planning application.
That gives developers the opportunity to sort out any issues before they arise during the formal planning process.
