£32m retail park plans rejected by planning inspector

A planning inspector has rejected plans for a £32m retail park expansion at Kingswood Retail Park in Hull for a final time.

The scheme had already been rejected twice by Hull City Council. The applications by Kingswood Parks Development Company and Kier Property were for a development of ten shops and cafes/restaurants, totalling 120,000 sq ft, on land next to the Next store at Kingswood.

The developers appealed the decision and a public inquiry was held in November. The planning inspector has now made the decision to reject the plans for a final time.

In his decision letter, inspector Robert Mellor said: “There would be a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the city centre, including adverse consequences for existing and committed investments in the city centre and for planned investment as set out in the newly-adopted Local Plan.”

A campaign had been launched by traders in Hull city centre, who opposed the out-of-town scheme because they felt it would threaten the viability of businesses in the centre. More than 1,000 people signed a petition, organised by Hull BID, to back city centre stores.

Reacting to the planning inspector’s decision, Dan Mason, a director of Princes Quay shopping centre in Hull, said: “We’re delighted the inspector has found very clearly in favour of supporting the city centre.

“The inspector’s judgement vindicates fully the arguments we put across. He has rejected the appeal comprehensively, recognising that committed and planned investment in the city centre would have been undermined by this threat from an out-of-town development.

“From Princes Quay’s perspective, this very welcome decision enables us to move forward confidently with our investments.”

Kathryn Shillito, city centre Manager for Hull BID, said: “This is a brilliant early Christmas present for city centre businesses, especially the independent traders who would have been hardest hit.

“We’re delighted the inspector has found overwhelmingly in our favour and so pleased for the many, many businesses who have supported us to mount a robust case against the Kingswood plans. It’s been a fantastic example of HullBID and city centre businesses working together to get a great result.

“We want to thank everyone who supported our campaign, including the small businesses that shut up shop and turned out to make their voices heard.

“The city centre is beginning to see economic recovery and businesses will be extremely relieved at this decision.”