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The Channel Islands Co-operative Society and local property developer Comprop have entered an agreement for the creation of a new forecourt and retail unit on the former GT Cars site.
The site, which will be developed by Comprop, has been bought by the Society and will provide a 1,883 square foot En Route store, similar in size to the En Route in St Andrew. Six fuel pump islands and a retail store will serve customers travelling along the Bas Courtils Road, St Sampsons.
There is also a light industrial storage/distribution unit at the rear of the site. It is anticipated that JJ Fox will be the end users and occupiers of this unit.
As it is in a residential area, the front of the site will be in-keeping with the surrounding area, being designed to look like a row of terraced houses. The concept of a forecourt has been supported by the States Traffic Department.
The development will also include the provision of a pedestrian crossing to Les Bas Courtils Road, as well as road and footpath improvements to encourage safe and appropriate vehicle, cycle and pedestrian traffic to, through and beyond the site. Some minor alterations to the plans have also recently been submitted, as part of the fine tuning of the plans to create the En Route facility.
Colin Macleod, Chief Executive of the Co-operative Society said: “The Society is delighted to be purchasing this prominent site in a location that will allow us to better service our members. Since launching our new low price fuel strategy our fuel business has continued to grow. This exciting new addition to our En Route estate will enable us to provide even more members with the opportunity to take advantage of our low prices on fuel and same low prices on food. The Society is pleased to be able to continue to invest in the local economy, not only creating new jobs within its core business, but by also supporting additional work within the construction industry during the development phase.’
Managing Director of Comprop, Steve Marie, added: “We are delighted to have made this agreement with the Society, and to be able to restore this neglected brownfield site to good economic use. The industrial nature of the site lends itself to a development of this type, and it will benefit both local businesses and the community in the area. Historically, the site has had various industrial uses, so a considerable amount of necessary site clearance and preparatory work has been undertaken by the contractor.”
Full construction work will begin in the usual way in the next few weeks and it is anticipated that the new store will open towards the end of 2015.
