Store wars in Warminster - Sainsbury's plans thrown out.

8.00.00am GMT Wed 18th Nov 2009

Dents Factory

A scheme for redevelopment of the car park to the rear of the Three Horseshoes Mall in Warminster allowing a new 3,980 sq m supermarket and a new building housing a library,museum and tourist information office went to the planning committee on Wednesday November 18th. Planning officers were recommending it for permission, but the committee unanimously threw out the scheme.

Developers Stockland said the scheme would provide 130 jobs and would provide a "sustainable approach to securing the long term health and economic well-being of Warminster's existing town centre."

However a succession of speakers from Warminster criticised the plan. Richard Haes of the Civic Trust said it would cause a loss of facilities for the town. Peter Butler of the Chamber of Commerce was concerned about the loss of public parking and the impact this might have on businesses in the town centre. Chair of the Warminster and Villages Development Trust Michael Mounde pointed out that the organisations which use the library building - the Trust itself, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Tourist Information Centre and Shopmobility might not be able to find space in the proposed replacement library building.

There were also concerns about the impact on the Avenue School. Chair of Governors Jean Till said she was appalled at the lack of consideration for the school.

Speaking in favour of the scheme architect Mr Crosby said it was "appropriate for the Conservation Area", whilst Simon Hoad of Stockland developers said they had already put £15million into the Warminster economy, and this project was worth a further £5m.

Warminster Mayor Tony Nicklin pointed out that the Town Council had received strong opposition from residents including a petition against the supermarket. "The voice of the people should be heard above all others," he said.

The application was refused due to the lack of retail need; potential conflict between servicing vehicles and car park users; loss of parking provision and poor design in the Conservation Area.

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In August a scheme to redevelop the Dents factory on Fairfield Road in Warminster as a Waitrose supermarket, plus shops and a cafe was permitted by councillors after being recommended for refusal by Wiltshire Council planners.

The reason the planning officers didn't like the idea was, they said, because the site on the central car park would be preferable.

They also raised concerns about the design - the layout was shown as having a large car park in front of the shop. The modern concept is to have the shop itself as the most visual part of such schemes with car parking tucked away behind. The reason for this arrangement was explained as being to protect a belt of trees at the front of the site, which would have to be removed if the building were to go there.

At the committee meeting on August 5th agents for the Stockland development were naturally supporting the planning officers, but a large contingent of Warminster residents and town councillors provided overwhelming support for the 'Waitrose' application.

Chairman of Dent's Robert Yentob explained the importance of the scheme to Dents. "We need to expand and we need a more modern building," he said. They wanted to remain in Warminster and would move to a site on Furnax Lane.

For more on this story see http://www.visionforwarminster.co.uk/news_33244.html

or http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/4532982.Cheers_as_Waitrose_plan_is_approved_for_Warminster/