Newport supermarket war rumbles on
TELFORD & Wrekin Council is to challenge a decision by a planning inspector to give the go ahead for plans for an out of centre supermarket site in Newport.
Following a public inquiry in May, a planning inspector approved the planning application for the demolition of existing commercial buildings at Audley Avenue so a 54,724 sq ft food store can be built.
Telford & Wrekin Council has now brought an application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to the High Court of Justice to challenge the inspector’s decision to give the all clear to the scheme.
The council argues that if the Audley Avenue site gets the go ahead, it sets a serious precedent for further development in Newport.
And it is seeking to ensure Section 106 highways payments associated with the site are made.
Without financial contributions from private developers, it argues, there is a risk that the road and other essential infrastructure that is necessary to make the development acceptable may not be constructed or the costs of providing it will fall on local taxpayers.
The council is of the opinion that a different site at Station Road is “sequentially preferable” to the Audley Avenue site.
Birmingham developer St Modwen had submitted an application for a supermarket at Station Road and this was approved by the council’s plans board on April 25. The secretary of state has since called this in for the application to be considered at a public inquiry.
Michael Barker, Telford & Wrekin Council’s assistant director for planning, said: “We believe the planning inspectorate’s grounds for allowing the appeal are flawed and consequently we are challenging the decision using the legal avenues open to us.
“These decisions are very important for Newport as once the development is built, it will be there for many years. Our duty as planning authority is to make the best decisions for the future of the borough and not to accept second best for Newport or anywhere else.”
St Modwen is also challenging the planning inspector’s decision.
