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First look at Whitby's planned Homebase store
THIS is the vision for what the proposed Homebase store for Whitby could look like.
The design is one of the images which around 30 people turned out to see at an exhibition at Whitby Rugby Club.
The major DIY chain has submitted plans to Scarborough Council to build a 30,000 square foot superstore on the old SB Woodworking site in Stainsacre Lane.
Its expected the council's planning and development committee will discuss the application on 15 May.
Joe McClenaghan, director of planning for Blue Sky, the planning consultants acting on behalf of Homebase, said everyone who came to the exhibition last Thursday was positive about the store coming to the town, apart from a couple of people.
He said the exhibition was a success with people signing a comment form and giving general feedback.
Out of the forms they received, one man objected and one woman had reservations about the store, which is likely to create up to 60 new full-time equivalent jobs.
Of those who visited the exhibition, five were town councillors and the rest were interested residents from the Whitby area.
The exhibition was held at the rugby club rather than in the centre of town because there were no other premises available to hold it.
"Generally everyone was in favour, saying it's exactly what Whitby needs," said Mr McClenaghan.
"Most of the comments said it would stop people travelling to Scarborough, Teesside and York."
If planning permission is granted, the old building will be demolished and construction of the new store could begin as early as this September, opening in September 2009, although this is dependent on planning permission being approved.
He added there is enough money being spent in Whitby to support all the local businesses including Homebase.
"We agreed with the council planners – we would have to look at every individual business in the town with everything that overlapped," he said.
"Our overall conclusion is generally the shopping on offer in Whitby is pretty limited and people are therefore spending their money outside Whitby because they have to."
Mr McClenaghan added Homebase will help to provide a better quality of shopping for local people and hopefully, it will encourage other national retailers to open a store here.
l SEE Tuesday's paper for reaction to the possible new Homebase store.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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