American multi-national coffeehouse chain Starbucks is interested in taking over the former HSBC bank site in Pudsey, it has emerged today.
WLD reported earlier this week that an application for a ‘certificate of proposed lawful development’ to change the use of building from a bank to a coffee shop had been submitted to Leeds council’s planning portal.
The applicant was named as Church Court (Morley) Ltd, with the agent listed as Huddersfield-based Code L6 Architecture. WLD has learned that the local applicant is working alongside Starbucks with the proposal.
The building has remained empty since HSBC closed its branch, at the corner of Church Lane and Robin Lane in Pudsey, in October 2020. The building, which has a guide price of £475,000, is currently listed as being ‘under offer’ on property firm Mark Brearley & Company’s website.
Trish Smith, chair of the Pudsey Business Network Forum, gave a lukewarm reception towards Starbucks and encouraged people to support local independent business in the town over the weekend. She said:
“This Easter weekend I’d encourage people to walk around and get to know your local area. Go for a walk in the park and then maybe support a local business if you can. The independents were helping people out during the pandemic, we need to support them now.
“If you can afford it, please buy a Pudsey Lottery ticket and get more Pudsey Pounds circulating around the town. Let’s really get behind our local independents.
“We have some fabulous independent shops in Pudsey. We need to embed ourselves now as a shop local community before the likes of Starbucks move in. I’m not against big business but we can’t allow them to close our indies.”
The Pudsey Lottery was set up to support local businesses during the pandemic and encourages people to ‘shop local’. It has so far achieved a total prize fund of £22,200, with 53 independent Pudsey businesses benefiting. The most money spent in one business is £2,500, with six others close to or over £1,000.
The Pudsey Lottery is fully licensed by Leeds City Council and is managed though the Pudsey Business Network Forum.
The planning application is due to be decided by council officers by 22 May 2022.
Sounds like good news.
Finally, someone is welcoming this news!
Sick of all those cynics