Historic department store plans new York retail site

A historic York-based independent department store is planning to open a new site outside the city centre.Established in 1896, Barnitts’ York city centre store on Colliergate remains in the same building it was founded in and stocks a range of products across electricals, furniture, homewares, kitchenware and lighting.Plans have been submitted for a new store based in the 1970s-built former First bus depot on James St.Barnitts would convert the 30,000 sq ft (2,870 sq m) detached commercial building into a 7,000 sq ft (644 sq m) home and garden retail area on the ground floor for the sale of large furniture items, domestic lighting together as well as hardware.The site would also be used as a collection point for ‘Click and Collect’ goods sold from the primary store on Colliergate.The rest of the site would be used for a 14,400 sq ft (1,339 sq m) warehouse as well as office space and 6,500 sq ft (608 sq m) mezzanine storage above.