190726 | Plans for out-of-town retail park in Camborne rejected
Plans for out-of-town retail park in Camborne rejected
Published by Emma Carton at 9:09am 26th July 2019. (Updated at 9:12am 26th July 2019)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Richard Whitehouse
Plans to build an out-of-town retail park near Camborne have been rejected by councillors who said the development would have "massive adverse impact" on the the town centre.
A planning application for the retail park - which would have a Lidl store, Home Bargains store and petrol station - went before Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee on Wednesday morning.
Planning officers had recommended that the "finely balanced" application should be approved, despite admitting that it would see Camborne town centre lose £1 for every £9 spent there.
It was argued that the development would result in 160 jobs being created and an investment of £11 million.
But councillors were not persuaded by the benefits and voted unanimously to refuse planning permission.
Plans to build a new out-of-town retail park at Camborne have been rejected. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting ServiceThe committee heard from Anna Pascoe, manager of Camborne Business Improvement District (BID), who said that the town centre would lose £7.2m a year if the centre was opened.
She said: "The officers have highlighted the impact that this could have but then recommend approval - it doesn't make sense.
"I have never seen a scenario where 11 or 12% being ripped out of the bottom line and saying that it will have little impact".
Anna Pascoe, Camborne BID
Ms Pascoe also said the planning officers' recommendation "flies in the face" of the council's work in improving the vitality of town centres.
Elle Walker, who runs a cafe in Camborne, said traders in the town had worked with the BID and the town centre to help improve footfall in the town.
"If this goes ahead all the money and effort that has been put in will be in vain".
She explained that she had sometimes struggled to cover the costs of paying her staff and her overheads and some months had not taken any salary from her business.
She added: "I can't afford to lose anymore income not only from my business but also for my home".
Ellie Walker
Ben Ellis, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said they had undertaken public consultation and claimed they had approached the BID to work with them but had their invitation refused.
He said the plans had been amended "considerably" to minimise the impact on the town centre and highlighted that more than £400,000 would have to be paid if planning permission was granted.
The money was set to be used to fund projects such as a town centre manager and improvements to shopfronts in the town.
Cornwall Council agreed the retail park would have a "massive adverse impact" on Camborne town. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting ServiceDavid Biggs, Cornwall councillor for Camborne Treswithian, said he could not support the plans.
He said: "Twelve per cent of spending in Camborne will be lost, more recent evidence suggests that could be an underestimate".
Cllr Biggs said that while the retail centre would create jobs it would only be making up for job losses elsewhere.
He was also concerned that the development would not end with the current plans, stating that maps indicated that a phase two was also planned.
To applause from the public gallery he said: "This is absolutely the wrong development, at the wrong time and in the wrong place".
Councillor David Biggs
Redruth councillor Barbara Ellenbroek highlighted that the impact would not only be on Camborne town centre but also on Redruth town centre.
Committee member Andrew Long, who proposed that the plans be refused, said he was concerned that the retail impact surveys only looked at the direct impact on the town centre.
He said in future the council should look to also take into account the impact on the supply chains for those businesses.
He said the planning officers said there could be "significant adverse impact" and added: "I think that is the understatement of the year. This will have a massive adverse impact on Camborne town centre".
The Mebyon Kernow councillor added: "It does nothing to protect the vitality and viability of Camborne or Redruth or any areas around it".
Councillor Andrew Long
The committee voted to refuse planning permission as the application was contrary to council planning policy aimed at protecting town centres; it also had visual impact and the site was not allocated for such development.
A separate application for a coffee shop and drive-thru was also refused because it failed the "sequential test" and would be better located within Camborne.
via https://www.piratefm.co.uk/news/latest-news/2921244/plans-for-out-of-tow...
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