Derby's former Go Outdoors store could be knocked down to make way for new business park

Confusion surrounds the future of a former Go Outdoors store on a well-known and busy Derby road – with demolition looking the most likely outcome out of all the options.

A new planning application has been submitted to Derby City Council calling for the former leisure store on Ascot Drive to be partly converted “for a new self-storage depot”.

The Go Outdoors store closed a couple of years ago when the retail brand moved to the Wyvern Retail Park at the former Toys R Us site.

The latest application also lists plans to convert the remainder of the existing building to form a car repair garage, erect purpose-built storage containers within the rear car park and carry out alterations to the external façade of the building.

According to planning documents, the applicant Ross Bhardwaj wants to retain the building in its general form to facilitate the change of use of the building.

However, there appears to be some confusion behind the plans – as a big stumbling block may be in the way of Mr Bhardwaj’s application. This is because the council has already approved plans for the same site.

But the plan approved is totally different to the new one recently submitted. Planning documents state the approved proposal is to demolish the existing unit and replace it with a warehouse park comprising spaces for 162 small warehouse/storage units.

The scheme, planned by German company “Storage 24”, will see a range of businesses and private individuals, including start-ups, SMEs and tradespeople, based within Derby and the surrounding area, “with a clear focus to provide an affordable platform for them to grow their business”.

A planning statement adds: “The units will be marketed on both local and national platforms, tailored to target small business owners and residents of Derby. The lease terms are flexible, with one-month rolling break options, which helps to support growing businesses. Despite the flexible terms, tenants on existing parks in Europe typically occupy their units for an average of two years.”

Derby City Council has approved the plans – suggesting the German company is in pole position to develop the Ascot Drive site. A decision notice by the authority reads: “The proposed redevelopment of the former retail site to form storage and warehouse units is acceptable in principle in this established employment location. (It) would deliver new employment and regeneration opportunities on this vacant site through a high-quality design and form of development.”