Marriotts Close £40m plans revealed (From Witney Gazette)

Marriotts Close £40m plans revealed

9:00am Wednesday 28th June 2006

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LONG-AWAITED plans including three major new shops, ten smaller retail outlets, a cinema and more than 100 apartments are being revealed this week for the Marriotts Close development, in Witney.

A major step forward in the development of the town centre site, in Welch Way, is being taken by Simons Developments with the submission of a planning application to West Oxfordshire District Council.

"It's taken a long time, and that's because we've wanted to get everything right first time. I hope that when people see the plans, they will be excited and realise the potential for Witney and the surrounding area."

David Harvey, chairman of the Marriotts Close working party

It will be the first time that plans for the £40m redevelopment are revealed publicly, after years of confidential meetings, held by the council's Marriotts Close working party.

Full details of the application, which arrived at the council offices this week, set out over thousands of pages, were not expected to be made available at the council until later this weekWEDS, JUNE 28, but Simons Developments told the Witney Gazette that plans include . . .

* Three major new shops . . .

* Ten smaller retail units . . .

* Five-screen cinema . . .

* Two restaurants . . .

*A coffee shop and public open space . . .

* More than 100 apartments . . .

* 650 parking spaces.

There were no details of which retailers or cinema operators or restaurateurs that may be vying to operate from Marriotts Close, but the Lincoln-based firm said the development would see a £40m investment in the town and the creation of numerous jobs.

It is holding public exhibitions next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the High Street Methodist Church, Witney, to present the plans in detail, and give residents the chance to question members of its development team.

Simons Developments director, Luke Pickering, said: "It is hoped that such a substantial investment, which would give Witney its own cinema and attract major new retailers, will increase trade generally and benefit Witney as a whole." He said the development would mean the addition of some 'well-known stores currently unavailable in Witney'.

Improvements are also planned for Welch Way, to make it more pedestrian-friendly, extra trees will be planted, and it will be given a 'boulevard atmosphere'.

Mr Pickering added: "The development will be a welcoming and exciting addition to Witney, with high-quality retail and leisure units and modern living accommodation set in sympathetic Witney surroundings."

Next week's exhibitions form part of public consultation planned separately by both Simons and West Oxfordshire District Council. Simons will be setting up a website dedicated to the plans and progress of the development, www.marriottsclose.co.uk, and the council also plans to set up another site as part of its website, www.westoxon.gov.uk.

Both Simons, which was picked to take forward development plans last year, and the council hope all residents will get involved with the consultation process and grasp their chance to have a say on the plans There has been controversy over plans for a multi-storey car park and housing at the site from some campaigners, who are calling for the car park to run on a charge system. At present, it is free to park in all of the town's car parks, though time limits apply.

Earlier this year, campaign group AIM Action to Improve Marriotts handed in a 4,000-signature petition to the district council, calling for an acre of green space to be kept at the site, which is on land formerly owned by the town's football club.

Mr Pickering said there were plans for a public open space, and encouraged people to make their views about this, and all other aspects of the plans, known.

He added: "We have already had the first in what we hope will be a series of constructive discussions with AIM concerning their desire to have an acre of green open space on the site, and I'm sure other people will want to make their comments known."

Simons' public exhibitions will take place between 10am-7pm on July 6, 11am-7pm July 7, and 9am-5pm on July 8. Details of the district council's consultation plans were yet to be released.

A decision on the planning application will be made later this year following consultation, and it is hoped Marriotts Close will be developed by the end of 2007.

David Harvey, chairman of the Marriotts Close working party, said he felt the 'look and feel' of the development captured the 'essence' of Witney.

He said it was impossible to please everyone, but urged people to look at the plans and thought the majority would be very impressed.

He added: "It's taken a long time, and that's because we've wanted to get everything right first time. I hope that when people see the plans, they will be excited and realise the potential for Witney and the surrounding area."

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