July opening planned for new Wickes store in Grimsby

Grimsby's new Wickes DIY store will open its doors in just a few weeks' time.

Work is almost complete on the 30,000sq ft store on a former brewery depot site in Birchin Way, facing on to Pyewipe Road.

The home improvement giant will move from its current premises on Alexandra Retail Park to a retail unit on Gateway Park off the A180.

Work has been ongoing on the new purpose-built store since last year, and it is understood it will open within weeks.

Although similar in size to its existing unit in the town centre, Wickes said the new purpose-built store will provide an improved experience for customers. Around ten new jobs are also set be created.

The new Wickes store will boast 22,000sq ft of retail space on the ground floor and a further 8,000sq ft on the mezzanine floor.

The firm said it would include a mezzanine floor level where customers can see bathroom and kitchen ranges, and free wifi for shoppers.

The scheme was brought forward by site owners Standard Commercial Property Developments Ltd, which is now hoping that the move will provide the spark for further development on the seven-acre site, where little has happened since the arrival of McDonald's and KFC over a decade ago.

Standard Commercial is planning to create a multi-million- pound mixed-use development on the site, comprising a hotel, restaurants and retail units.

Wickes will be open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 4pm on Sunday, and will include a Toolstation concession.

A total of 86 parking spaces will be provided, as well as 12 spaces for bicycles.

Vehicles visiting the site will use the existing access road for the neighbouring KFC and McDonald's drive-thru restaurants.

A design and access statement produced by DLA Architecture, on behalf of the developer Standard Commercial Property Developments Ltd, said the scheme would "regenerate an existing brownfield site in a sustainable location close to Grimsby".

It describes the proximity of the site to the A180 as a major advantage and says that the existing highway network could be "easily extended" to the south.

Source : Grimsby Telegraph
www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/New-Wickes-DIY-store-open-weeks/story-26708814-detail/story.html