Decision day for Costco and prospect of jobs

10:41am Tuesday 15th February 2011

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CASH and carry giant Costco is set to get the green light for a new warehouse in Southampton today.

Planners are recommending councillors approve the plans for a low cost wholesale store on part of the former BAT site in Millbrook.

Business and city chiefs have welcomed the development which would cement Southampton’s position as retail capital of the south coast.

The 13,000 sq m store, which would open in late 2012 selling 4,000 different items, would create 132 full-time and 117 part-time jobs.

more than 600 parking spaces are planned.

Costco says the warehouse will breathe life into the ten-acre plot off Regents Park Road, formerly used for cigarette manufacturing until production was shut down in 2007.

Its design is for a store lower than the existing BAT factory building, with its boundary landscaped with trees and bushes.

BAT said it had been negotiating the contract for the site for over two years and believed Costco’s proposal “offers a good opportunity for the city”.

Retail estate advisors Vail Williams claims demand for smaller industrial units on the site would be limited.

The American retailer has won the backing of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, however some residents fear increased congestion, parking problems and noise nuisance.

Under planning conditions at least 65 per cent of annual sales would have to be to trade members of a warehouse club.

The proposed opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 8.30pm, Saturday 9.30am to 6.30pm and on Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Costco has agreed to only take deliveries between 7am and 9am.

Lucky Strike and Dunhill maker BAT will remain on the northern part of the site where more than 1,000 people work in its offices and a research and development centre.

The Costco plans will go before Southampton City Council’s planning panel this morning.

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<a href="http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8853644.Decision_day_for_Costco_and_prospect_of_jobs/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8853644.Decision_day_for_Costco_and_prospect_of_jobs/Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:43:15 GMT 00:00">Decision day for Costco and prospect of jobs (From Daily Echo)