250 jobs on way at new Whitchurch Sainsbury’s
Friday 4th November 2011, 11:00AM GMT.
A new Sainsbury’s supermarket creating 250 jobs is set to be built in Shropshire after the scheme cleared its final hurdle.
Government planners today said they do not intend to ‘call-in’ the application for the new store in Whitchurch. The project had already received planning permission from Shropshire Council and has now been rubber-stamped by central government.
Council officials have received a letter from the Department of Communities and Local Government saying Secretary of State Eric Pickles does not need to review the planning application.
Simon Alton, spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: “We are now finalising the details of the legal agreement and the decision will then be released.”
Backers of the scheme off London Road say it will encourage more people to visit the town centre, revitalise that end of the town and improve the choice of shopping.
But those opposing it say it will hit trade for other town centre shops and lead to an increase in traffic.
Sainsbury’s bosses says as well as bringing jobs, the store will increase shopping competition in the town.
Construction is expected to begin by next summer, with the store opening in 2013.
As a condition of the planning approval, the company must provide a financial contribution of almost £500,000 towards town centre improvements under a legal agreement with Shropshire Council.
Plans by Tesco to create a superstore on Edgeley Park and develop a smaller metro store on its existing site at White Lion Meadow have also been submitted to the council.
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Another lunatic APPROVAL for Whitchurch.
Will the Planners and the Govt. give us a date for the official closure of Whitchurch Town Centre small shops activity ?
At the same time a similar date for Shrewbury,Oswestry,Ludlow, et al in Shropshire and surrounding areas.
Which idiot in which Govt. years ago said “We will not allow further Supermarket expansion – “to avoid the destruction of Town Centre shopping ” !!!!
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As a Whitchurch resident and ardent campaigner against the proposed Tesco destruction of the Town Centre by building way out of town, I couldn’t disagree with you more. Supermarkets put in the right position are actually a ‘draw’ to a town centre. This Sainsburys is walking distance to the centre with 3hrs free parking. Perhaps you are not aware of what Tesco proposed to do with the town? That might explain your view? Whitchurch will in a years time have a ‘draw’ store which will attract people to the town who currently shop elsewhere because the town centre Tesco is a disgrace. If you look at other towns around the UK with a good centre supermarket it usually acts to help smaller shops by increasing footfall in the town. Whitchurch has historically suffered because it has been sadly treated by an uncaring, inconsiderate supermarket called Tesco……………
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