October 24, 2011 7.34 pm This story is over 148 months old

Green light for River Island’s new High Street store

Moving on: River Island will be moving to a bigger unit in the city, due to approval by the council.

— Update: At the City of Lincoln Council’s Planning Committee, being held at The Lawn on October 24, the new-look River Island has been approved.

High Street clothing chain River Island has re-submitted an application to move out of its current unit and create a new three-storey store further along.

As previously reported, the national chain submitted a planning and demolition application to move next to Lloyds TSB on the High Street.

The new River Island would see the current small unit, housing Next and Sundance, removed and in its place a large, glass-fronted unit added.

However, the first application was rejected due to the design not being in keeping with the area, which is in the Cathedral and City Centre Conservation Area.

The application has been resubmitted by Wilson Peck Properties to the City of Lincoln Council with a revised design (pictured), which closer reflects the architecture of nearby buildings.

The design aims to not take away from the neighbouring Lloyds TSB, a Grade II listed building.

The applicant also agreed to pay £6,838 towards improving the High Street and Cornhill areas of the city.

The application added: “The new building will also provide a shop unit of a sufficient size that would be suitable for a major national retailer in the city.

“The city’s retail study identified a lack of major High Street brands in the city centre and a lack of opportunity to attract such brands due to the nature of the existing premises available.

“A retailer has already been identified for the property and this in turn will set in place a chain of relocations for the City which will be of economic benefit to the City’s High Street.”

The existing occupiers of the unit both have other stores located in Lincoln — Next is situated in the Valentine Retail estate and Sundance recently opened a shop in Bailgate.

Conditions have been put on the application, stating that the unit must be in accordance with the above plans, begin work within three years of approval, agree to an archeology investigation, and check for contaminated land.

The application will be put in front of the City of Lincoln Council’s Planning Committee on October 24, where the committee will consider the conditions before deciding on the unit.