Last summer Sainsbury withdrew their original application for a supermarket on the redundant part of McMullen’s brewery when planning officers recommended refusal and then resubmitted an amended scheme with a slightly smaller store. In January, ignoring the officers’ recommendation for refusal, the Development Control Committee surprisingly approved the amended scheme, despite being warned that there are no practical solutions to address the expected increased traffic congestion at Old Cross and in Cowbridge.
Since then the conditions to be attached to the approval have been agreed with the applicant and approved by the Committee. But that is not the end of the matter. Because the floor area of the development is above a specified threshold and represents a departure from the approved Local Plan, the decision has been referred to the Department of Communities and Local Government through the Government Office, East of England. The Society has supported a letter from local residents seeking an extension of the period for consideration so that more detailed evidence can be submitted challenging the planning decision. At the time of writing the DC&LG has not called in the application for decision by the Secretary of State nor issued a direction for deferral of the decision pending further examination.
If the scheme still goes ahead there could be significant benefits to the cultural life of the town if realistic leasing arrangements can be agreed for the refurbished listed buildings on the site. However, it remains the Society’s view that this last remaining large site in the town-centre could have been returned to a more rewarding use than turning most of it into a supermarket car park.
Since then the conditions to be attached to the approval have been agreed with the applicant and approved by the Committee. But that is not the end of the matter. Because the floor area of the development is above a specified threshold and represents a departure from the approved Local Plan, the decision has been referred to the Department of Communities and Local Government through the Government Office, East of England. The Society has supported a letter from local residents seeking an extension of the period for consideration so that more detailed evidence can be submitted challenging the planning decision. At the time of writing the DC&LG has not called in the application for decision by the Secretary of State nor issued a direction for deferral of the decision pending further examination.
If the scheme still goes ahead there could be significant benefits to the cultural life of the town if realistic leasing arrangements can be agreed for the refurbished listed buildings on the site. However, it remains the Society’s view that this last remaining large site in the town-centre could have been returned to a more rewarding use than turning most of it into a supermarket car park.
