Controversial shops plan approved for Bridgnorth car park site
Controversial plans to build shops on a Bridgnorth town centre car park have been given the green light following a planning inquiry.
Government Housing Secretary James Brokenshire dismissed fears the development at the Old Smithfield site in Bridgnorth would take trade away from the historic High Street.
The site will include five new shops sized to attract new retailers that cannot currently be accommodated in the town centre.
Developers claim it increase choice and stop people travelling from the town to Telford.
More than 6,800 people signed a petition started by Bridgnorth’s Chamber of Commerce to halt the development.
They said the work would damage the character of the town and have an adverse impact on parking.
But planning inspector Karen Ridge said the positives would outweigh the negatives. She said the plans would create jobs.
“The proposal would bring economic investment and activity to Bridgnorth,” Ms Ridge said.
“It would result in additional job creation, there would be the clawback of expenditure and more sustainable travel patterns and a small environmental benefit in terms of the improvement to the setting of the Bridgnorth Conservation Area.
“All of these factors weigh in favour of the grant of planning permission.”
Extension
She said although car parking levels would be reduced and demand increased, reduction of parking spaces would not cause a significant impact.
"I am firmly of the view that the levels of linked trips estimated are conservative and the actual increased level of demand arising from trips solely to the retail units would not be as high as estimated," Ms Ridge said.
"I have made findings that the retail proposal would result in a trade diversion from Bridgnorth town centre in the order of three per cent or some £1.22m," Ms Ridge added.
"It would act as a logical extension to the town centre and would improve the retail offer of the centre in terms of comparison goods retailing.
"As such it would make a modest reduction in the comparison goods expenditure currently leaking out of the district. Some £3.31m would be clawed back from a total leakage of around £60m."
Jean Nowak, decision officer on behalf of Mr Brokenshire, said: "The inspector recommended that planning permission be granted for the development.
"The secretary of state agrees with the inspector’s conclusions and recommendation. He has decided to grant planning permission."