The Range in Hartlepool to open food and drink section - this is what it plans to sell

Proposals were lodged earlier this year to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department for the store at Teesbay Retail Park to create space in the existing shop to sell a range of food and drinks items for customers to take home.

The plans, submitted by The Range Head Office, stated they want to use up to 250sqm of the existing site to provide the goods.

Council planning chiefs have now approved the plans, with a report from senior officer Laura Chambers stating there would be no detrimental impact on the area and it is a ‘lawful development’.

She said: “It appears the level of food sales at the park overall remain well below the maximum levels allowed by condition.

“The introduction of the amount of food and drink retail sales proposed (250sq.m.) would not prevent the continued lawful operation of the premises and wider park in line with those conditions.”

A planning statement previously submitted on behalf of the applicant said they should be allowed to make the modification to the store after permission was granted in 2009 to remove previous restrictions over floorspace and what could be sold.

It said: “The Range is introducing a limited amount of food and drink goods for consumption off the premises.

“The area used for the sale of food will be comprised of the following main elements: freezer cabinets, 2 chiller cabinets selling a limited range of perishable items including cheese, meat and dairy products.

“[It will also sell] a range of ambient, non-perishable tinned and packet goods and a small selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.”

A limited range of household goods such as soap, toilet rolls, toothpaste, and similar products will also be sold in the same area, according to the plans.

The newly designed space offering the food and drinks will represent around 6% of the gross floor area of the store which comprises 4,330 sq.m, including the garden centre.

The Range is one of the fastest growing chain retailers in the UK and sells home, garden and leisure products, including furniture and kitchen equipment.

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