Screwfix plans for Wick – proposed site at airport industrial estate
Mention of a significant business development for Wick came up at last night's meeting of the town's community council.
The Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council discussed current planning applications for the area and one proposal, currently lodged with Highland Council, is for the erection of a building to be occupied by Screwfix – described as "the UK's largest multi-channel retailer of trade tools, accessories and hardware products".
Planning permission is being sought by the applicant, Caledon Properties Limited based in Edinburgh, to create two industrial units within a single building at a vacant area close to the A99 road. The Highland Council planning application says that the new 383m2 storage distribution warehouse will "meet a specification prepared by Screwfix Ltd who are the preferred tenant of one unit" and a smaller unit (287m2) for another occupier.
Screwfix would operate the site as a Class 6 Storage and Distribution outlet and the building would be a standard steel portal framed building with mid-grey insulated cladding to the roof and walls and rooflights providing 15 per cent of the building’s footprint. The only apertures would be for the Screwfix customer entrance, goods-in doorways, and four emergency escape personnel doors. "This design format meets the general aesthetic character of the area," says the development access statement. There would be space for 19 parked vehicles at the site as well.
The proposed area for the construction is a vacant grassy area that shows "no evidence of any buildings having been on the site at any time".
A Screwfix spokesperson said: “Whilst an initial planning application has been submitted for a new Screwfix store in Wick, it is too early for us to comment further on our plans. Customers can find up to date store information on Screwfix.com.”
