AN application has been made to change the use of the site currently housing Matalan in Newport in case the clothes and homeware retailer opts to move to a more desirable spot.
Matalan has a lease until March, 2026 for the site on Seven Stiles Avenue in Newport Retail Park.
Glenbrook Property want to change from non-food retail use to also having the possibility for business, general industrial and storage or distribution.
Their application to Newport City Council states that there has been no retail interest in taking over the site due to its location.
MOVE? Matalan in Newport Retail Park (Image: Google Maps)
“When their lease expires there is the possibility that Matalan will choose to relocate to another unit in the locality,” reads the planning statement from Carney Sweeney.
“In anticipation of Matalan potentially surrendering their lease on the property in March 2026 and it becomes vacant, [real estate agents] Knight Frank have been tasked with presenting the property to prospective retailers.
“Knight Frank have advised that there hasn’t been any interest shown from the retail market due to the siting of the property.
“The Matalan unit is sited at the very rear of the Retail Park and away from the main concentration of retail units. It sits on its own facing onto the rear service yards of several retail units.
“As such it doesn’t benefit from any passing traffic or pedestrian footfall. This means that visitors to the Retail Park will often be unaware of Matalan’s presence at the Retail Park as they are unlikely to stumble across it.
“The separation and distance from the main Retail Park together with the lack of visibility and prominence clearly impacts the stores ability to attract customers.
“In order to try and improve the marketability of this unit and attract a wider range of tenants this application therefore seeks full planning permission for the change of use.”
It states that the agents have declared there has been interest in the other uses “for which the market in Newport is very strong”.