Do YOU have any comments on development plans for Wisbech's new retail park?

Most people in Wisbech will now be aware that Tesco joined forces with developer Cromwell Retail Park to redevelop both the former Wisbech greyhound stadium site and its nearby store site, after a previous plan stalled in the downturn.

The new £50m scheme will create over 500 new jobs in the development phase alone and see the former stadium transformed into a 10,200 sq m Tesco food superstore, an eight-screen cinema operated by The Light Cinemas along with a new restaurant complex.

On the old Tesco site, Fenland Council also gave planning consent to a 10,400 sq m retail park, where several retailers have been lined up including, Next, Brantano, Matalan, New Look, Dreams and Sports World.

The development will bring forward road improvements and investment to support a number of town centre initiatives, as well as tourist information and community notice boards, to ensure the whole town derives maximum benefits from the developments.There will be 3 touchscreen tourist information points – worth mentioning because they were what swayed Fenland councillors into approving the scheme!

The scheme is anticipated to start later this year and be completed in two phases with overall completion hoped for late autumn 2013.

Development schedule

Late 2011/2012: Tesco Extra and cinema development begins.

Late 2012/Christmas: Tesco Extra, cinemas, restaurants open

Late 2012: Demolition team moves into former Tesco store

End 2012: Work starts on new non-food retail park on existing Tesco site

Late autumn 2013: Non-food retail park development opens

We think this is a great development for Wisbech,bringing extra footfall into the town and creating jobs with retailers new to this location. Clearly there are concerns from businesses currently operating in Wisbech Town Centre about the impact of this edge-of-town development. What do you think? Are you a local business with concerns about this development?