Newport Sainsbury's inquiry to be test planning case
A long-running battle over plans for a large supermarket in Newport will be one of the first tests of new planning reforms, campaigners say.
The Save Newport Campaign Group is desperate to block plans for a 50,000sq ft Sainsbury's supermarket on a field in Station Road on the edge of the town. Now a public inquiry into the scheme is scheduled to start on January 29 and is likely to last about two weeks.
David Parker, campaign group spokesman, believes the inquiry's outcome will have major implications for similar proposals up and down the country.
That is because the supermarket is being proposed under the National Planning Policy Framework and is not in the local development plan, which was agreed by the council and residents.
Mr Parker said: "This will be a test case for the new National Planning Policy Framework and for localism.
"We are looking forward to an objective review by the inspector."
Mr Parker claimed that the Government has adopted a 'free-for-all' stance on planning.
The campaign group believes that the supermarket could have severe implications for independent traders in the town centre.
Two smaller supermarkets, at Mere Park Garden Centre and Audley Avenue, had been given the go-ahead by planning inspectors but are now a matter of a High Court challenge by Telford & Wrekin Council – which stands to net £21m in land sales if the Station Road plan goes ahead.
Telford & Wrekin Council has consistently backed the Sainsbury's proposal.
A spokesman for Sainsbury's said the store would increase footfall in Newport town centre, provide shoppers with choice and create more than 200 jobs.
