Plans have been revealed to extend proposals which have already been agreed for a self-storage facility in a south Essex town centre, with the whole site set to take over two shops. 

Proposals have been unveiled, by DVS Ground Rent Ltd, for a self-storage business to replace the existing Sports Direct in Basildon Town Centre, which would be an extension of the plans by Away Cheltenham Ltd which have been agreed for a self-storage facility in the former Toys R Us, which is part of the same huge building on the town centre. 

Toys R Us had delighted customers at the site in Southernhay, Basildon, since 1985 but the giant store left the town back in 2018 after the firm went out of business.

The new plans say Sports Direct is closing and relocating its Basildon shop, which was previously in the town’s Eastgate Shopping Centre.

The proposals, for the Sports Direct store next to the former Toys R Us, include improvements to the access for vehicles and pedestrians, with an organised pick-up and delivery area, with the firm saying this will be looked at “to ensure a controlled and managed system to minimise disruption along Southernhay.”

The plans say: “This application is for the change of use from retail to self-storage which will enable an extension to the already consented self-storage facility next door. Given this is an extension to the adjacent facility, there will be minimal impact to the access and servicing to the site, and simply beneficial additional floor area to the adjacent business operations to enhance the operation of the self-storage business.

“Furthermore, as Sports Direct are relocating, the change of use will guarantee an active use for the unit which serves the needs of Basildon residents and businesses, thus contributing to the overall variety, vitality and activity of the town centre. As such, the floor plans illustrate the potential storage cage layouts to demonstrate the internal change of use proposed, with elevations to illustrate the minimal visual impact of such change. Aesthetically, the exterior of the building will remain as existing, with an alteration to signage which would be addressed in a separate advertisement consent application.”

Plans show the self-storage facility is set to be run by StoreAway, which currently has sites in Bath and Cheltenham and the firm offers personal, business and student storage. Basildon Council is set to make a decision on the proposals by September 17.