It’s been announced today that a planning inspector has refused permission to Sainsbury’s for an out-of-town store near Saffron Walden in Essex.
Although it’s not directly relevant to our district, the inspector’s decision would be useful reading for councillors , traders and campaigners interested in planning. You can download her decision here. (225k)
The key paragraph is right at the end:
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75. Notwithstanding the above advantages the appeal proposals would not result in a sustainable form of development resulting in sustainable economic growth.
The impact on the convenience turnover of the town centre and the probable loss of an investment opportunity are matters of overriding importance. In the face of such significant adverse impacts Paragraph 27 of the Framework
[of the coalition government’s new planning policies] says that such proposals should be refused. Whilst I have taken account of all other matters raised I have found nothing to alter my conclusion that the appeals
should not succeed.
Christina Downes
INSPECTOR
Basically, the inspector is following new government guidelines on a strong ‘town centre first’ policy. One of the things she mentioned was the importance of an existing Waitrose store in Saffron Walden town centre. It seems that Sainsbury’s ingeniously argued that Waitrose customers would be so loyal to their usual store that it wouldn’t suffer much loss in trade. In return it seems that Waitrose warned that it would lose trade, and if Sainsburys got permission Waitrose would cancel a planned extension to their own store.
The inspector commented in her decision that:
51….. The Council?s analysis seems more credible and
for a town centre to lose as much as 43% to 50% of its convenience turnover
is likely to result in serious and significant harm to vitality, viability and retail
function even for a town centre as healthy and relatively prosperous as Saffron
Walden. Those food shops with small profit margins would undoubtedly suffer
and market traders may find it difficult to remain viable…..
The Saffron Walden Reporter has a report on the appeal here.
Sainsbury’s website puts forward their point of view here.
A local campaigners’ website is here.
The local Lib Dems opposed the store – see here.