A MAJOR new retail park is planned for Basingstoke on a site that has been empty for 20 years.

Area Estates, a joint venture between property developers Fintry Estates and Pears Property, is launching a project to develop the former Smiths Industries site, in Winchester Road.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Tesco was set to sell the site last year after it shelved controversial plans to build a new supermarket there.

Tesco was refused planning permission by the borough council to build a 63,000sqft store, and lost an appeal on the grounds it would have a trading impact on nearby shops.

Tesco announced in January last year that it would not proceed with its plans to build 49 planned new stores across the UK, including the one in Basingstoke, because of its business performance.

Now, Area Estates hopes to secure planning permission for the retail park, which will deliver investment and hundreds of new jobs.

It is the second proposal for an out-of-town retail park, after NewRiver Retail announced plans to transform Basingstoke Leisure Park, to include a shopping village with designer outlets.

Area Estates is proposing to call the development St Michael’s Retail Park, after the iconic figure who appears on the Basingstoke crest which featured in the ancient seal of the former borough of Basingstoke and has been used instead of a coat of arms.

The retail park would include seven separate warehouse retail units, including brands such as Oak Furnitureland, Furniture Village, Sofology, Tapi and Aldi, along with four smaller restaurants and coffee shops, such as Nando’s and Costa.

The development team will stage two public consultations at the site, off The Harrow Way, between Lister Road and the Brighton Hill Retail Park, today from 2pm-6pm, and on Saturday, 11am-3pm.

The events will give residents, community groups and business owners the opportunity to view the proposals, meet the development team and give feedback before the plans are submitted to the borough council later this summer.

Duncan McEwan, director of Fintry Estates, said: “We’re excited about bringing this site back to use to create investment, jobs and more choice. We want to know what residents and businesses think, please come along.”

Visit stmichaels-retailpark.com.