Mystery has surrounded who will be moving in to Ruddington’s former chemists’ shop since refurbishment work there began a few weeks ago. The historic High Street premises have been empty and up To Let since Evans Pharmacy relocated to Charles Street in May this year – and rumours have been rife as to what they might become next.
This speculation has been fuelled by the workmen saying it’s “top secret” and being asked not to say! However, the stories going around that it is to become a pizza restaurant or other eating establishment are incorrect. RUDDINGTON.info can reveal that, in fact, it is to be another village estate agents.
The lease is subject to the relative formality of a new planning application for “change of use of 12, High Street from A1 (pharmacy) to A2 (estate agency)”. Applicant Shaun Daykin is an independent financial advisor who is seeking permission to operate from there as a sales and lettings agency offering financial services. Trading as Benwell Daykin, with business partner Ricky Benwell, they plan to have two full time and one part-time members of staff at the Ruddington branch.
Their new website promises “…a professional approach to property…” and states: “Ruddington is ingrained in our company’s DNA, as is our unrivalled knowledge of the local area, with various staff growing up in the village and surrounding areas…(who)…aim to provide the highest possible quality of service to all our clients – with a personal touch, tailored to an individuals needs.”
Rather ironically, Benwell Daykin’s lease agreement will be through the current managing agents of the site, Tanners Chartered Surveyors – who closed their own village branch on Church Street (above) in March last year. Since then, Ruddington has had only one dedicated High Street estate agents, Thomas James, which has dominated the house selling market in Ruddington for many years (and, coincidentally, is in the process of moving its offices from across the road to just a few doors away at 20/22 High Street). Our village also already has a dedicated lettings agency, J.P. Lettings, at the corner of High Street and Kirk Lane. Nevertheless, with at least 525 more new houses being built soon on Ruddington’s Green Belt, it’s likely there’ll be plenty of conveyancing work for everyone!
Comments about this change of use application 19/02326/FUL by Benwell Daykin are being welcomed via Rushcliffe Borough Council’s planning portal >>HERE<< by Monday November 11th 2019.
{Our thanks again to eagle-eyed villager Craig Baum for alerting us to this application.}
