Dozens of new jobs are set to be created in Bamber Bridge now plans for five new shops have been given the go-ahead.
South Ribble Council has approved plans to create the parade of shops on land off Withy Grove Road.
Part of the car park off Withy Grove Road, close to Morrison’s, will now be used to create the new shops which will bring up to 25 new jobs to the area.
But today South Ribble Coun David Watts, who represents the Bamber Bridge East ward, warned care must be taken over the selecting of tenants.
He said: “If it will bring different shops I can possibly live with it but all we have had over the last two years is takeaways and we don’t need any more.”
A spokesman for architects Cassidy and Ashton said: “These stores will add to the general mix and vibrancy of Bamber Bridge District Centre.”
Applicants IMCO Holdings anticipate the shops will create a number of full and part time positions, bringing employment to the area.
They say the shops will be attractive to both local and national retailers.
Each shop will be around 95 square meters with the entire development covering approximately 500 square metres of the site on a single storey.
They will be constructed from brick and a spokesman for IMCO Holdings Ltd said: “The intention is to maximise and re-use previously developed (land).
“The main aim is to promote regeneration and minimise the amount of greenfield land being taken for development.”
Surveys of the site have concluded that at the present time approximately 50% of the parking spaces behind the shops are in use on a Saturday morning with around 115 spaces left vacant.
While the new development will reduce the size of the car park, it will be by around 28 spaces, still leaving ample parking, the developers said.
The area has good public transport links and a bike stand will also be provided to encourage cycling.
The units will be north facing with no rear access to avoid disruption to nearby residential properties.
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