Future plans for a popular antiques showroom in Lancaster which closed last year could get the go-ahead.
Lancaster City Council planning officers have recommended that planning permission be granted for a scheme at GB Antiques, Lancaster Leisure Park, subject to conditions.
The plans are to convert the former antiques warehouse into six separate units for a mix of commercial, storage and distribution uses.
There would also be demolition of part of the existing building, creation of a parking area, compound fencing and associated works.
GB Antiques operated for almost 35 years and was one of the UK's largest independent indoor antiques and furniture retailers, until it closed its doors in February 2025.
Jimmy Blackburn from GB Antiques inside the former showroom
A council report published this week said: "The flexible uses applied for include Class E (Commercial, business and service) e.g. retail, indoor sport facilities, offices, healthcare, nurseries etc. and B8 (Storage or distribution) Use Classes.
"The submission seeks a flexible approach to how the existing unit is subdivided.
"The intention is to provide six units across the 3,834 sqm of available floorspace.
"The way that this floorspace will be split will ultimately be informed by the tenants and their space requirements.
"To this end, the applicant proposes a restriction in the upper limits of specific uses that may be permitted at the site, including: a maximum of 15% (575 sqm) Gross Internal Area (‘GIA’) of the available floorspace is to be used for the retail sale of goods.
"This will ensure that retail floorspace is ancillary to the wider use of the site.
"A maximum of 50% (1,917 sqm) Gross Internal Area (‘GIA’) of the available floorspace is to be used for Use Class B8 storage floorspace.
"The remaining works proposed include demolition of the existing single-storey, flat-roof annex, which projects east from the warehouse at its northern end, replacement of this north-eastern annex and some surrounding soft landscaping with 32 new car parking spaces and new fenced ‘compound’ areas for two of the proposed units in the former warehouse building.
"As part of these works, it can be confirmed that landscaping containing the mature willow tree will be retained.
"The works at this part of the site will also result in the provision of new customer cycle parking adjacent to the vehicular parking spaces, as well as two new electric vehicle charging spaces.
"Along the northern elevation of the building, four existing car parking spaces will be removed in order to aid safe vehicular circulation around the site.
"An existing vehicular access to the northern elevation of the warehouse will also be removed.
"On the western side of the building, two small existing annexes will be removed and replaced with a pedestrian pathway, which will run the length of this elevation.
"Beyond this pathway, 12 customer car parking spaces are proposed.
"Elevational changes to the west of the building will include the introduction of four new vehicular access points to the structure, which will serve four different units.
"These access points will be secured by roller shutter doors.
"New customer access points will also be provided for the units that will be served from the building’s western elevation.
"On the building’s eastern elevation, at its southern end, new vehicular and pedestrian access points will be introduced to the structure in order to serve Unit 6.
"Meanwhile, at the northern end, vehicular access points will be provided within the compound areas associated with Units 1 and 3."
The report says there will also be "formation of a pedestrian route along the northern elevation of the building continuing along the western frontage".
The council has received four letters making comments about the plans, which said "the development should seek to encourage people to use sustainable forms of transport, including cycling and pedestrian opportunities" and were "in general support of the scheme, as it will revitalise the Leisure Park" although "the potential increase in traffic and parking should be considered".
The report concludes: "The proposed redevelopment of the former GB Antiques warehouse represents an effective and sustainable reuse of a prominent brownfield site within Lancaster’s urban area."
It recommends that full planning permission be granted subject to conditions and "subject to receipt of satisfactory further information and re-consultation with the highway authority relating to safe HGV movements within the site".
Lancaster City Council planning regulatory committee, a cross-party group of elected councillors who will make the final decision, will meet to discuss the plans on Monday June 22 at Morecambe Town Hall.
The meeting starts at 10.30am and is open to the public.
The full plans are publicly available to read at the Lancaster City Council website lancaster.gov.uk in the planning section, reference number 25/01218/FUL.
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