A sprawling former GO Outdoors store is set to be brought back into use as it plays host to self-storage units. The Hanley building has been stood empty since the retailer swapped the city centre for Festival Park with council planners branding it a ‘challenging site’.
Now plans to create scores of self-storage units inside the one-time Tesco have been given the go-ahead. StokeonTrentLive had previously reported how the store had been put up for auction last year.
Now more than 11,000 sq m of floorspace will be used as self-storage space for residents and businesses after a change of use application was given the green light. A letter in support of the scheme stated: “The proposed development will enable the re-occupation of the floorspace for an appropriate, alternative commercial use. The self-storage use will provide storage and associated facilities for home and business users.”
Meanwhile, the scheme will see the current 487 spaces in the basement of the building reduced down to 266 which planners say is ‘still an excess’ for this type of business.
It represents the latest chapter for the building. The Sentinel reported back in April 2011 on how crowds swamped the grand unveiling of GO Outdoors in the city centre. The launch created 60 jobs.
But the business then moved into the former Toys r Us on Festival Park before then taking on the units formerly occupied by Mothercare and Outfit where it remains. In approving the change of use for GO Outdoors’ former city centre base, planners said: “Whilst the use is not a main town centre use, it has been concluded that on balance the use would be appropriate for this location and would redevelop a challenging site which has been vacant within the City Centre for a prolonged period of time.”
