Resort's store wars flare up again

Store wars are hotting up again in a seaside town after Tesco appealed against refusal of planning consent – and a victory for a rival scheme by Sainsbury was plunged into uncertainty.

Whitby has been divided over competing schemes by the two retail giants, which come hot on the heels of the expansion of the existing Co-op supermarket near the railway station.

Scarborough Council planners confirmed yesterday that following the decision by councillors on July 29 to grant planning permission to Sainsbury's it was decided to refer the decision to the Government office as a potential departure from policy.

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A key element of the justification for the original decision on Sainsbury's was that the development would, on balance, have no detrimental impact on the vitality and viability of Whitby town centre.

The scheme would also pass the acid test if it did have some impact – but of a level that would be compensated for by the benefits of greater retail choice for the Whitby community as a whole.

The Local Plan requires that a major shopping development should not sap the vitality or viability of an existing town centre as a whole. Accordingly the Sainsbury's decision could be argued to potentially result in some departure from the established planning policy.

Pauline Elliott, the head of regeneration and planning services, underlined that for major proposals such as this, referral to the Government Office was often standard procedure.

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"Any planning permission granted without referral where considered appropriate or necessary, could result in legal challenge, which if upheld, could result in the decision being quashed and the whole process would then have to start again," she added.

"The Government Office is currently considering the council's decision and could refer the application back to the council in order for the decision to be finalised.

"Alternatively, they might advise that the application be called-in for determination by way of a public inquiry. It is anticipated that the decision will be made shortly, and we will provide a further update on the matter when we know the outcome."

Meanwhile, a public inquiry is also on the cards into the refusal by Scarborough Council of the Tesco scheme and this could mean both schemes going before a planning inspector together.

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Jill Low, Planning Manager, added: "We are aware that S Harrison Developments/Tesco Stores have appealed against the refusal of their proposals at High Stakesby Road in the town, and this may be the subject of an inquiry early next year.

"If Sainsbury's proposals are called-in by the Government Office, then it is possible that the two proposals would be considered together by an independent inspector. What happens next depends upon the decision of the Government Office."

In July, a year of wrangling appeared to have ended in victory for Sainsbury's and the Co-op after councillors approved their expansion plans and threw out an application from Tesco at a planning meeting attended by more than 400 people.

Planners had recommended refusal of Sainsbury's proposal for a new store in the east of the town, saying the Stainsacre Lane site was too far out from the town centre. But councillors voted yes, subject to 26 planning conditions.

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More than 3,700 objectors had petitioned against the Tesco development, which would have been built at High Stakesby under a deal with the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete, based at Sneaton Castle.

The pressure group Whitby Residents Against Tesco Superstore had claimed the proposed supermarket would drive shopkeepers out of business, destroy the character of the town and increase congestion.

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