New store still waiting for the final go-ahead
WORK was finally supposed to commence on Southport’s new Sainsbury’s supermarket this month – but this is now unlikely.
The seemingly straightforward proposals for Meols Cop Retail park, became a battle that rumbled on for four years.
In 2016, the supermarket chain received planning permission to demolish the former Homebase and build a 60,000 sq ft supermarket and petrol station.
The application was highly contentious and only approved after a fiveday public inquiry – called for by former Southport MP and now Southport Lib Dem councillor John Pugh in 2015.
A time limit was set on when work should start, with planning permission for the two-storey scheme due to expire in December this year unless builders move onto the site.
Then, in October 2018, Sainsbury’s formally submitted new plans for a smaller 50,000 sq ft onestorey store on the same land.
As well as the main store, the development is to feature a petrol station with a kiosk and public recycling facility, new car parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure works, including the demolition of some buildings.
At a Sefton Council planning meeting on July 31, Cllr Pugh said the new store would have a hugely damaging effect on the town centre, as well as putting huge strain on the local highway network. He added that it would be at odds with the council’s recent pledge to reduce carbon emissions and aim to be a “net-zero” local authority by 2030.
But planning officer Steve Faulkner said the new store would be a positive addition to the town, with a “net gain of employment opportunity moving forward”.
In his report, he said: “Though the reduced size of the store slightly reduces the number of job opportunities available, the proposal is still expected to generate around 30 full-time and 170 part-time equivalent job opportunities.
“This will generate considerable job opportunity.
“The increase in wage earning population would potentially benefit other local businesses with more disposable income distributed in their stores.”
The planning committee then agreed to refer the proposals to the Secretary of State for approval.
A spokeswoman for Sefton Council said: “The Secretary of State decided not to call in this planning application for a further public inquiry.
“We anticipate that this will enable us to grant planning permission once the required legal agreement has been completed.”
A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “We expect planning permission to be granted shortly, and we will keep the community updated on our plans.”