A NEW toy superstore could be opening its doors in Barrow, bringing dozens of new jobs and investment to the area.

Plans have been put forward to convert Apollo Bingo in Hollywood Retail Park into a Smyths Toys store.

The development would mean alterations to the shopfront, rear door, a three-metre fenced compound and the construction of an internal mezzanine for storage, offices and staff facilities.

The plans state the bingo operator is scheduled to vacate the unit shortly and has agreed to a mutual rolling break in its lease.

According to a planning and retail statement submitted with the proposal, Apollo Bingo has struggled in the face of competition from the newer Opera Bingo on Holker Street, which opened in September 2019, and is due to expand further to accommodate a function room.

“The catchment is clearly not large enough to allow for two bingo halls to trade successfully simultaneously,” the plans state.

Hollywood Park ‘presents an ideal opportunity’ to establish a Smyths Toys store in Barrow in place of Apollo Bingo, plans reveal.

Smyths Toys is Europe’s largest toy retailer, with more than 110 stories throughout the UK and Ireland, selling a range of products in the toys, baby, sports, outdoor and gaming categories.

The new store will also mean the creation of 30 new jobs in the borough, ranging from retail assistants to management positions, with a further 15 temporary positions in the run up to Christmas.

It will also mean a ‘substantial’ capital investment into the town, increased consumer choice and competition and the re-use of a unit which would otherwise become vacant, plans reveal.

No changes are proposed in the plans to the layout, height, width, length or massing of the unit or the existing parking arrangements.

The Entertainer and Heaths Toymaster, both in Dalton Road, are among Barrow’s other choices of toyshops in the town.

However, according to the planning and retail statement, Smyths has differences in range and nature to other toy shops in the area.

Smyths tend to act as ‘destination’ retail facilities, whereas town centre retailers tend to serve a more localised catchment, plans state.

“As a result, Smyths Toys complements rather than competes with more specialised toy retailers in defined centres.”

The opening hours will be from 9am until 8pm between Monday and Saturday, staying open until 11pm between October and December each year to accommodate the Christmas demand.

In conclusion, the plans read: “We anticipate that only very low levels of expenditure will be diverted from town centre retailers to the application scheme. The proposal will therefore threaten no meaningful or material impact on the town centre improvements.

 “The proposal will result in a number of positive impacts for the vitality and viability of Barrow town centre, reinforcing and strengthening its role as a sub-regional centre and enhancing local consumer choice.”

The nearest Smyths Toys to Barrow are Carlisle and Preston.