Lifestyle retailer Bayliss & Booth is set to create 10 new jobs, with apprenticeships and back to work opportunities as part of a new, purpose built unit in Blackwater. Owners Peter and Carole Lambert have been working with Leigh Thomas, planning consultants The Planning and Development Hub, and Rainey Petrie Architecture to plan their new location, which will adjoin an extended Mole Valley store. The new site would facilitate an expanded retail space, facilities for tutorials and workshops, a cafe and parking for nearly 30 cars. An electric juicing point, a link to the existing cycle way and cycle repair station are also part of the plans, as is an improved bus stop.
“Exciting times are ahead,” Carole says. “Our current central Newport location has allowed us to attract customers from all points of the island and we have regular, loyal customers from the mainland. We believe that customers want a memorable shopping experience offering more than can be found online. Our new site will bring this vision to reality and we believe this application has substantial support from the public and the local business community and it is hoped that the Isle of Wight Council will approve this exciting and sustainable project.”
