Council turns down home store opening
City centre impact fears
Councillors have rejected a bid for a TK Maxx Homesense store at Springkerse Retail Park - over fears it could draw business away from the city centre.
Stirling Council’s planning panel voted by four votes to three to refuse an application by the retail park’s landowner Coal Pension Properties Ltd.
The applicant had asked for an alteration to planning permission given in 2015, which limited the amount of floor space to 15 per cent for goods that might “adversely affect the vitality and viability of the town centre”.
Coal Pension Properties Ltd had wanted to increase this to 30 per cent but the majority of panel members had concerns over the potential impact on Stirling city centre.
The application would have meant a retail unit doubling the floor space devoted to the display of goods such as ornaments, gifts including books, candles and cards, and kitchenware.
Over the years the local authority has strongly resisted efforts from a number of parties hoping to trade from Springkerse if it was felt they could have an adverse impact on city centre retailers, differentiating between what is offered at each site.
The sole objection to the application was submitted by Thistles shopping centre owners Standard Life Investments.
Council planners, who had recommended conditional approval of the application, said: “It is intended the unit will be occupied by Homesense, a format of retailing operated by TK Maxx. TK Maxx already has a store at Burghmuir Road in Stirling. There are some homewares and furniture products in this store but it does not operate under the separate Homesense brand.
“It is anticipated the retailer’s intention would be to operate the entirely new Homesense brand of furniture and furnishings retailing at Springkerse thereby freeing up floor space in the city centre for more personal shopping (clothing and footwear).”
The planners added that because the goods allowed would be complementary to the furniture goods it would limit the potential for similar proposals to come forward as the condition was “bespoke” and that no additional new retail floorspace was involved.
Vice-convenor of planning and regulation Chris Kane said: “When Springkerse Retail Park was given planning permission in the 1990s, it was on the understanding that the retail offering would ... not compete, with the nearby city centre.
“Generally speaking, if you need to take it home in a car you’re more likely to find it at the retail park.
“If you need to take it home in a carrier bag, you’re more likely to find it in the city centre.
“I think our decision strikes a balance, something which is increasingly important to both city centre shopping and retail parks as more and more trade continues to move online.”
Tory councillor Ross Oxburgh, whose ward Stirling North covers the city centre said: “It is good news that this application has been turned down, but in itself this will not solve the problems in the high street.
“We need a plan by the council to support the new Business Improvement District to create a healthy city centre. There are threats from retailers outside the city centre, but there are also threats from other cities and online retailers.
“There is a potential great future for our city if the council will stand alongside the traders and let them create the city centre we all want.”