Meole Brace Retail Park row: Denial over 'danger' for Shrewsbury town centre

In a letter to Shropshire Council's planning department representatives of Meole Brace Retail Park have claimed that new Sports Direct and Outfit shops would actually benefit trade in Shrewsbury.

Response

Mark Saunders of Leeds-based NJL Consulting Planning & Development, made the comments in response to claims made by Deloitte on behalf of Shrewsbury's Darwin and Pride Hill shopping centre owners UKCPT.

Shropshire Council is currently considering whether to grant full planning permission to a scheme that would see a new Sports Direct store built at Meole Brace Retail Park, with clothing retailer Outfit taking over its previous premises.

Outfit, which is run by Arcadia, would have in-store concessions including Topshop, Topman, and Dorothy Perkins.

Mr Saunders refuted a suggestion that the new stores would take trade from Shrewsbury's town centre, saying that Deloitte had missed the mark with its comments. In his letter to Shropshire Council, Mr Saunders said that Sports Direct had looked at opening a shop in Shrewsbury's town centre but had always wanted to retain a presence on the retail park.

He said: "Suitable existing units meeting their size requirements were unavailable in the town centre.

"Sports Direct could consider an additional store opening if such a site were available to meet their requirements."

Claims made by Deloitte that the opening of Outfit at the retail park would impact on Arcadia's town centre stores were also refuted.

Mr Saunders said: "Arcadia has recently renewed its lease on their town centre Topshop/Topman store in full knowledge of entering in to an agreement for an Outfit fascia at Meole Brace Retail Park. Outfit is a recognised 'out of centre' operator for a range of Arcadia concessions."

"There are numerous examples across the UK, including nearby in Telford, where an 'out of centre' Outfit store complements Arcadia's larger 'in centre' offer. In simple terms, Outfit occupying a unit at Meole Brace will have no effect on the town centre."

Deloitte also claimed that further expansion at the retail park would hinder the proposed redevelopment of the Riverside Shopping Centre – a project which remains in limbo, with no future plans yet revealed.

Mr Saunders said: "The retail park does not compete with the town centre. In fact, the proximity and offer of Telford is the chief competition to Shrewsbury."

In a letter to the council, Caroline McDade of Deloitte had said: "It would be possible to accommodate the requirements in the Charles Darwin Shopping Centre as there are vacancies. The applicant has not considered this or made any attempt to contact UK Commercial Property Trust to discuss redevelopment plans and whether there are any units which could accommodate the proposals.

"There are available locations within Shrewsbury town centre to accommodate the proposed floorspace."