Publication Plan April 2024

Object

Representation ID: 6276

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Lidl GB Limited

Agent: Walsingham Planning

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

NPPF paragraph 90 – planning policies and decisions should support the role that town centres play at the heart of local communities by taking a positive approach to their growth, management and adaptation.
Policy EC8 does not reflect this positive and flexible approach to plan-making and so is inconsistent with national policy. EC8 states that proposals will maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of SS network of centres but in practice the policy does nothing to enhance the vitality of town centres.
The SS Retail Centres Study is informed by a Household Shopping Survey – shows that much of residents’ shopping is done outside of the district.

Object

Representation ID: 6277

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Lidl GB Limited

Agent: Walsingham Planning

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

These representations on behalf of Lidl are concerned with Penkridge, a large village at the top of the retail hierarchy. 68% of residents’ convenience expenditure is spent outside of the district altogether, in towns such as Stafford and Cannock. This is unsustainable as it encourages unnecessary travel.
Penkridge has around 43 retail units, of which 6 are convenience use, of these only 2 could be described as supermarkets and a handful of other convenience units. This is supplemented by a twice weekly market.
Such an approach should be reversed rather than maintaining the status quo advocated by the SSRCS or Policy EC8 itself. The approach does not comply with paragraph 90 of the NPPF and represents a lost opportunity.
SA2, involving over 1000 new houses will compound the existing problem. SA2 includes the requirement for a ‘community hub’ which should include ‘local convenience retail to serve the new neighbourhood’. No level of floorspace is identified within the policy or concept plan but it seems likely that the convenience element will be no more than a neighbourhood shop (based on undetermined planning application).
There is a need for a larger convenience store to serve Penkridge. EC8 fails to recognise the current deficiency.
There are no sites of a suitable size for a supermarket in Penkridge, but there is within SA2 at the southern end of the allocation, immediately adjoining the existing settlement boundary and has a main road frontage. A Lidl supermarket on site will cater for the day-to-day convenience needs of Penkridge and will be a suitable solution for convenience provision.
By failing to address the existing shortfall in convenience retail provision within the District, and particularly in Penkridge, Policy EC8 is not sound because it has not been positively prepared, it does not represent an appropriate and justified strategy and it will not be effective or consistent with planning for town centres.

Object

Representation ID: 6278

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Lidl GB Limited

Agent: Walsingham Planning

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Support the principle of SA2, the concern is the strategic allocation misses an opportunity to address an existing deficiency within the wider settlement by failing to include allocation of land for a supermarket.
Separate representations have been made for Policy EC8, which highlight the need for a larger convenience store to serve Penkridge to cater for the existing community and new development.
SA2 includes the requirement for a ‘community hub’ which should include ‘local convenience retail to serve the new neighbourhood’. No level of floorspace is identified within the policy or concept plan but it seems likely that the convenience element will be no more than a neighbourhood shop (based on undetermined planning application).
There are no sites of a suitable size for a supermarket in Penkridge, but there is within SA2 at the southern end of the allocation (ref 420), immediately adjoining the existing settlement boundary and has a main road frontage. A Lidl supermarket on site will cater for the day-to-day convenience needs of Penkridge and will be a suitable solution for convenience provision.
SA2 is not sound because it has not been positively prepared, fails to consider existing and future needs of Penkridge and is not therefore effective.