Pets at Home aim to bring store to Haverhill
Thursday, 18th April 2013.
The UK's largest pet supplies retailer aims to come to Haverhill, occupying the site near B&Q where MacDonalds were refused permission 12 years ago for a drive-thru.
Pets at Home, which has stores in Newmarket, Sudbury and Cambridge, would be the occupier of a new retail store for which Metric GP Income Plus Limited and Metric Income Plus Nominee Limited, the site landlords, have submitted a planning application to St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
It would be a 9,000sq ft store and would employ 15 people, on the frontage of Cambridge Retail Park next to B&Q, which is currently laid to landscaping.
The site has long been earmarked for a retail development and MacDonalds tried several times to get permission for a restaurant and drive-thru there in 2000, but local residents fought a strong campaign and the applications were rejected by council planners.
Pets at Home robustly defended its care of the animals it supplies after a BBC Watchdog programme last year claiming mistreatment of small animals.
The company has some 320 stores in the UK and employs around 5,000 people.
A atatement accompanying the applications says Pets at Home stores aim to create 'an environment that exceeds the welfare requirements for the safe and healthy keeping of animals, and a pleasant environment for customers, that allows shoppers to easily view animals on display, and easily locate appropriate pet supply products'.
In addition, it says, 'stores are now including a pet care area that offers veterinary (via
Companion Care) and grooming and general care services.
'While this function is ancillary to the main retail use of the unit it provides an important component of the business model and the ongoing education of pet ownership'.
The main store would be a 5,500sq ft ground floor, but there would also be a 2,300sq ft mezzanine to accommodate the complementary veterinary services and grooming facilities.
Car parking on the site is said to be already sufficient, with just three spaces being added.
Pets at Home, which has stores in Newmarket, Sudbury and Cambridge, would be the occupier of a new retail store for which Metric GP Income Plus Limited and Metric Income Plus Nominee Limited, the site landlords, have submitted a planning application to St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
It would be a 9,000sq ft store and would employ 15 people, on the frontage of Cambridge Retail Park next to B&Q, which is currently laid to landscaping.
The site has long been earmarked for a retail development and MacDonalds tried several times to get permission for a restaurant and drive-thru there in 2000, but local residents fought a strong campaign and the applications were rejected by council planners.
Pets at Home robustly defended its care of the animals it supplies after a BBC Watchdog programme last year claiming mistreatment of small animals.
The company has some 320 stores in the UK and employs around 5,000 people.
A atatement accompanying the applications says Pets at Home stores aim to create 'an environment that exceeds the welfare requirements for the safe and healthy keeping of animals, and a pleasant environment for customers, that allows shoppers to easily view animals on display, and easily locate appropriate pet supply products'.
In addition, it says, 'stores are now including a pet care area that offers veterinary (via
Companion Care) and grooming and general care services.
'While this function is ancillary to the main retail use of the unit it provides an important component of the business model and the ongoing education of pet ownership'.
The main store would be a 5,500sq ft ground floor, but there would also be a 2,300sq ft mezzanine to accommodate the complementary veterinary services and grooming facilities.
Car parking on the site is said to be already sufficient, with just three spaces being added.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)