Facebook campaign backs Next out-of-town store bid

The plans, which would have invested £10m in Sheffield and created 125 jobs, were blocked in a move that Next said indicates the city is “closing its doors to business”.

Sheffield City Council defended its decision saying that the plans to build on land next door to the Meadowhall shopping centre were not in keeping with plans to revitalise the city centre.

“The decision by Sheffield City Council to refuse planning permission for the Next proposal was taken firmly in line with the council’s policy to prioritise the city centre,” said Coun Leigh Bramall, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for business, skills and development

“We believe a thriving commercial and civic city centre is key to all our ambitions to grow the wider economy and develop a prosperous and growing city economy. The city’s retail offer needs improving, and this is key to also attracting office, leisure and cultural development in the city centre.”

Next said its plans to build on wasteland close to Meadowhall would have brought customers to Sheffield from far and wide.

“We find it hard to understand why planning officials worked so hard to persuade Sheffield’s councillors to vote against these new jobs,” said Next’s chief executive Simon Wolfson. “Maybe they thought we could build it somewhere better? We diligently searched for other suitable sites. They were too small, too out of the way, too hard get to, had too few parking spaces and some were simply unavailable. We believed our selected site was the only one that could house this type of large Home store.”

Next is now preparing to appeal against the council’s decision.

“We are enthusiastic to back Sheffield and invest in this great city, both on the edge and in the centre. Our only hope is that we be given the chance,” said Lord Wolfson.

By yesterday afternoon over 200 Facebook followers had signed up to the campaign to overturn the council’s decision.

One supporter said: “Come on Sheffield Council. First it’s no to Ikea now Next. What’s wrong with you! Get the jobs in our city. We would love an Ikea and large Next home in Sheffield!”

Lord Wolfson said: “To me, as a potential investor in the city, this decision to block growth sends entirely the wrong message. It looks as though the city is closing its doors to business at the worst possible time.”

Coun Bramall said: “If Next wish to invest in sites in and around the city centre, in line with our policy, then we will be more than happy to talk to them.”