Heron Foods store to open in Bradford on site of former social club

The decision to grant planning permission for Holme Wood Social Club to be flattened and replaced with the food store was made by a planning panel on Nov 30. But one local councillor claimed the new store could jeopardise plans to redevelop the main shopping area of Holme Wood – a scheme first drawn up a decade ago but never implemented.

The Heron application, by Crag Developments, follows a similar application that was refused in 2020. That plan also included three smaller shops next to the planned Heron store. The latest application is only for the Heron unit. The application was discussed by Bradford Council’s Bradford area planning panel at the meeting, when planning officers argued the proposals should now be approved.

One bone of contention on the previous application was the impact that the store would have on the rest of Holme Wood. In 2012, Bradford Council produced the Holme Wood and Tong neighbourhood development plan – an ambitious document that shaped the development of that area of Bradford. It included proposals to create a new neighbourhood centre with improved shops and facilities.

One of the areas that would be improved was the Parade – an area of mainly vacant shops a short distance from where the Heron would be. The document has never been adopted, and these ambitious plans have gathered dust. The plan was raised by Councillor Kausar Mukhtar at the meeting.

She said: “By having a Heron there we’d be damaging the long-term sustainability of the parade of shops. It will impact the long-term sustainability of shopping in Holme Wood.”

She said the new Heron store would harm another local business – Kash’s Discount Supermarket. A “retail impact assessment” of the new store on local businesses had suggested the Heron would only lead to a 7.5 per cent loss of business for Kash’s.

Coun Mukhtar said: “Even the impact of a 7.5 per cent hit on a local community store could be damaging. If that shop closes, locals lose one of their options.”

Coun Matt Edwards was not able to attend the meeting, but send a representation raising similar concerns.

He said: “In the Parade there are already three empty units, including a very large unit which was vacated by Co-Operative Foods. The addition of another large retailer will directly impact the viability of what is already a fragile retail environment.”

Planning officer Amin Ibrar told members that the panel had to decide on the plans submitted to them, not other hypothetical developments. He said: “We have to decide what is in front of us. Officers are not convinced there is sufficient reason to refuse this application.”

Referring to concern that the business would harm sales at Kash’s, he added: “The planning system is not in place to protect one business over another.”

He said the Holme Wood and Tong development plan carried “little weight.” That plan was likely to be superseded by the Bradford Local Plan – which is in the early stages and would plan out development in the entire district.

Coun Mukhtar also pointed out that Heron mostly sells frozen food. She said a recent study by Born In Bradford found that Holme Wood was in need of stores that sold fresh food. She added: “It is a fresh food desert, we don’t need a frozen food store, we need fresh food.”

John Cordingley, of Crag Developments, told members that he bought the property in 2004, describing it as being a “failing social club” at the time. He had been in talks with Heron Food regarding the site since 2014, and that the plans to open a new build store on this site had “all the ingredients of a success.”

Referring to the Holme Wood Development Plan he said: “It was a laudable plan, but nothing came from it, and the retail offer in the area remains weak. Larger stores do not create a monopoly – they improve footfall in an area. The building has served its purpose and while it is not currently derelict it likely will be if subjected to vandalism and arson attacks.

“Times have changed – the club is no longer required. Its social role has declined. The Covid outbreak resulted in its final collapse.”

Members voted to approve the application.

After the meeting Coun Mukhtar said: “I’m extremely disappointed in Council officers and their failure to incorporate the Holme Wood and Tong Plan into formal policy after 10 years. They have let the whole area of Holme Wood down.”