Ludlow out-of-town supermarket is granted outline planning permission
A controversial out-of-town supermarket has been given the go-ahead, in a ruling that has dismayed objectors.
The plans for a supermarket and filling station at Rocks Green on the edge of Ludlow have been approved in principle.
It comes despite two years of strong objections from bodies including Ludlow Town Council, Ludford Parish Council and Ludlow Chamber of Commerce who say it could seriously damage the town's high street.
The plans, revised in December after coming to the brink of being thrown out by Shropshire Council's south planning committee in October, were given the go-ahead by that same committee – though narrowly, with a vote of four to five.
Sean McGrath, acting as planning consultant for developer Blackfriars, said Lidl had written to them to say the store was suitable for the retailer, and Sainsbury's had also expressed interest.
He said it needed to be the size it was to attract such a retailer – and a town centre site which might be freed up by the closure of Budgens would be too small for Lidl.
He insisted at yesterday's meeting that there would be little impact on small independent shops.
"The reality is the impact will be on Aldi and Tesco," he said.
Planning officer Karen Townend said it was recommended to go ahead as the revised plan had met most concerns and council legal experts did not think a refusal could be defended if developers made an appeal to the planning inspector.
But committee member Robert Tindall, for Brown Clee, backed by Andy Boddington, for Ludlow North, moved to throw the application out on grounds of concern over the impact on Ludlow town centre. He said it was impossible to make a decision on the plans as they stood.
Tina Woodward, for Alveley and Claverley, backed by Gwilym Butler, for Cleobury Mortimer, moved to accept the outline plans on the condition the full application came back to the committee.
David Appleton, speaking for the Love Ludlow campaign against the plans, said the objectors' call for a smaller convenience store on the site instead had been ignored.
Here's how the Shropshire Star's Tom Morton covered the meeting:
