Call to move store near to town centre
ABUSINESSMAN is calling for a new Sainsbury’s supermarket in Southport to be built closer to the town centre rather than in an out-of-town retail park.
Gerard Carney, of Southport & Windsor Properties, wants to see the planned store at Central 12 retail park on Derby Road, instead of its current planned location at Meols Cop retail park at Kew.
He submitted his plea to Sefton Council’s planning committee, which was set to decide on the latest application for the plans.
In 2016, following a public inquiry, Sainsbury’s was granted permission to consturct a 60,000 sq ft, two-storey supermarket, petrol station and recycling centre in place of the former Homebase store and two adjacent units at Meols Cop retail park. The scheme would create 200 new jobs.
But a new proposal for a possible smaller store was submitted to last week’s planning committee meeting, only for councillors to postpone a decision until July 31, giving them time to consider late submissions.
They included a document from Mr Carney, who claims that Central 12 owners Aviva, which already hosts a large Asda supermarket on its site, would welcome a new Sainsbury’s
– a move which would end the prospect of a new outof-town superstore drawing trade away from the town centre.
He claimed: “Aviva would welcome with open arms a large letting to Sainsbury’s.
“The trading impact on the town centre (if the new Sainsbury’s opens at Meols Cop retail park) is 2.5% of the entire spend.
“Yet ‘like impacts on like’ and the impact will be much more targeted on Central 12.
“Such an impact will clearly tip it over the edge and the town centre will lose the support previously recognised from Central 12.
“That needs to be assessed further, especially given Arcadia’s CV and the likely implications for the Outfit store, in conjunction with Boots announcement to close 200 stores, with such closures targeted to areas where stores are nearby another Boots store.”
Asda also raised its concerns. In her submission to Sefton, Asda head of town planning property team Jenny Taylor-Smith claimed a large Sainsbury’s supermarket at Meols Cop would draw customers and revenue away from businesses in the town centre.
She said: “Asda has significant concerns about the vulnerability of Southport town centre and its declining health.”
Since Sainsbury’s submitted its original plans in 2014, Ms Taylor-Smith said, the number of vacant town centre units has increased from 13.1% at 2015 to 18% in 2019, losing key retailers including H&M, Jaeger, Argos and HMV, whilst Beales significantly reduced its trading floorspace and Debenhams confirmed its Lord Street store will close later this year.
She said: “This comes at a tipping point in the history of Southport town centre. Members have an opportunity to refuse this application, support Southport town centre and help deliver its future regeneration.”
The claims were rebutted in a response from Savills (UK) Limited, which is supporting Sainsbury’s in its proposals.
A document from the firm said: “The applicant’s position is that there is a very limited impact on Southport town centre which is significantly outweighed by the benefits including investment, consumer choice and job and wage creation.
“The statements made by both SWP and Asda, that the units at Central 12 could be made available at ‘very short notice’ is inaccurate.
“Both Boots (Unit 3) and Next (Unit 5) entered into new ten and five year leases in 2018. The relevant leases expire in 2023 and 2028 and as such, Central 12 is not ‘available’.”
WHAT do you think? Email us at: seftoncommunities@ trinitymirror.com