A popular soft play centre which closed during the height of the Covid pandemic could be transformed into a new supermarket.
Plans were submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council on February 3 for the Jungletastic soft play centre on Nottingham Road in Nuthall to be turned into a Spar shop.
A new shopfront and car park with EV charging spaces would be created, as well as cycle parking and outdoor seating.
The soft play area closed after owners said they were "no longer able to sustain the business" due to Covid and the impact of resulting lockdowns.
Councillor Philip Owen, who represents the Nuthall East and Strelley ward, said: "I'm happy with what looks like a change of use to a Spar-type shop and reusing the space.
"The play centre had closed as everything had during Covid and simply not reopened - I'm not sure why if they didn't apply for the necessary grants or just couldn’t continue.
"It was quite popular and well used, but not necessarily by local people.
"It drew people in from elsewhere but this caused parking concerns, so we had to put in parking permits that displaced the traffic and ending blocking roads as a result."
The former play centre was founded in 2008 and 14 jobs were lost when it was closed.
The prospective shop, which borough officials have confirmed would be a Spar, has already been granted a license to serve alcohol, according to the area's local councillor.
Mr Owen added: "They've already obtained a liqueur license for the site so it doesn't seem far away.
"I'm very much in favour of it being occupied, as it is doing no good being empty.
"My only concern is that we already have a similar shop nearby and I don’t want that becoming less used, as shops are struggling already."
East Midlands Chamber director of policy and external affairs Chris Hobson said: “Vacant premises pose two-fold issues – they represent missed opportunities in maximising real estate in what are often desirable locations, while also creating a less-than-appealing impression to visitors.
“Redeveloping key sites into viable alternatives should therefore be a priority for our towns, cities and surrounding areas as they seek to exploit new opportunities after the direct impact of the pandemic.
“Bringing new supermarkets to an area will also help to improve the shopping mix that makes suburban areas a more attractive place to live, work and visit.”
When approached by Nottinghamshire Live, a spokesperson for A.F. Blakemore, which is the largest Spar distribution centre in the UK, said they were not able to confirm its intentions for the site as it was still in the early stages of planning.
The application is currently pending consideration by Broxtowe Borough Council.
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