Plans for the second phase of a £30 million retail park – with the promise of an extra 150 jobs – have been approved.

Proposals for a further eight non-food shops, three restaurants and four trade counter units at Neats Court, Queenborough, were approved by Swale Borough Council’s planning committee.

Pets at Home and furniture chain B&M Stores have already agreed to come to the site, off Thomsett Way, while discussions are ongoing with Poundland.

Giles Haywood, of LXB Retail Properties, which is behind the project, attended the meeting.
He said the developer was working to make the site attractive to national shops in the value-led sector.

Mr Haywood said he was “very pleased” permission was granted, adding: “We want to create jobs and we also want to create a vibrant, working leisure and retail environment at Neats Court.”

An assessment of the potential impact new stores would have on existing ones in Sheerness was carried out by council officers.

It concluded they would have an adverse but not significant effect and the proposal was
recommended for approval.

As part of the overall development, LXB has agreed to pay £100,000 towards the regeneration of Sheerness town centre upon completion of the project.

Councillors agreed there would be no requirement for any money on top of that as a condition for this second phase.

At the planning meeting, Cllr Mick Constable (Lab) said: “I am in full support of this proposal.

“Local people are very up for it and support it wholeheartedly.”
Cllr Pat Sandle (Con) said: “This is a very exciting prospect. It means there will be jobs for people that have been looking.

“Lots of people go off the Island to shop in Sittingbourne and if this keeps the money on the Island and jobs on the Island then I would fully support it.”

Phase one of the project, including a Morrisons store, a petrol station and a KFC drive-through is nearing completion and could create up to 450 jobs.

Mr Haywood said builders could be ready to hand over keys by the end of July.
Work on the second stage could begin this summer.