Ludlow supermarket scheme sparks war of words
An out-of-town supermarket has been recommended for approval just three months after councillors insisted they would refuse the plans.
A stand-off over the supermarket and petrol station at Rocks Green, Ludlow – between council officers and the elected members of Shropshire Council's south planning committee – is set to come to a head at Shirehall on Tuesday when a final decision is made.
In October, councillors wanted to throw out plans for what would be Ludlow's largest supermarket, off the A49 bypass, which many objectors – including Ludlow Town Council, Ludford Parish Council and Ludlow Chamber of Commerce – have said could seriously damage the town's high street.
But council officers forced them to defer the matter even though multiple committee members said it would make no difference to their decision.
Developer Blackfriars unveiled a redesign just before Christmas with reduced retail floorspace and measures to assuage concerns over traffic and the impact on neighbours.
In a report to be considered on Tuesday, case officer Karen Townend said the revised scheme should be approved.
She said: "The risk of refusing any planning application is the applicant appeals the decision.
"A planning inspector deciding an appeal may overturn the council's decision and allow the proposal.
"There are costs associated with defending an appeal against refusal but there are also risks of the council being required to pay the appellants costs of an appeal.
"This report is before members on the basis the reason for refusal was considered by officers, at the October committee meeting, to not be defensible if challenged at appeal." But the majority of objectors have not been persuaded to change their stance on the scheme.
The town's objecting groups and bodies have reiterated their opposition, and during a public meeting on the revised plans at the the start of January most gathered said they felt even the "scaled down" supermarket plan was still too large, even though they recognised the need for more budget retailers and a second petrol station in Ludlow.
Midcounties Co-Operative, which runs a rival convenience store and petrol station on Sheet Road, has also renewed its objection.
