Plans to change a former bike rental office into a new retail outlet will have no negative impact on the surrounding neighbourhood or affect traffic, agents for the project said.

Gorham’s has applied for planning permission to turn the former Oleander Cycles rental office on Middle Road, on the Southampton and Sandys boundary, into a second branch.

In a letter of support to the Department of Planning, JAD Design Build Services said: “The current use is cycle livery that has been closed for years.

“My client Gorham’s, would like to open a retail outlet store in this location. The business will be retail and there will not be any production or any other forms of industrial use on the site or activity.

“The retail outlet store will be open standard 8am to 5pm daily.

“We feel the proposed change of use will not have any negative impact on the surrounding neighbourhood or affect traffic.”

When The Royal Gazettefirst reported on the scheme, Andrew Mackay, the chief executive of Gorham’s, said the location was perfect for construction companies working on projects in the West End, which could pick up materials without having to go into Hamilton.

He hoped the new store could be open in early 2025.

Mr Mackay explained then: “It’s basically going to be a smaller version of the main store.

“It’s a smaller location so we can’t have as much selection but we’re trying to find the best mix of products.

“We want to have as wide a selection as possible but it’s going to be consumer-driven. We want it to be like a convenience store.”

Documents uploaded on the planning department’s website showed that the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service had offered no objection to the project.