Backing for Darklands plans
New pub, kfc and care home in swadlincote look set to get the green light
PLANS to build a pub, care home and a KFC drive-through in Swadlincote have been recommended for approval by planning officers.
The long-awaited development at the site of the former South Derbyshire District Council depot will be decided by councillors on Tuesday.
Put forward by Ashby firm LSP Developments Ltd, the Darklands Road development is expected to create up to 140 full- and part-time jobs.
The site would also feature a 200cover pub and restaurant, run by Marston’s Inns and Taverns, and two three-storey residential care facilities – one of which will contain 15 supported-living apartments.
The depot had been occupied by the council until it moved to a new base off Hearthcote Road at the start of the year.
More than 100 car parking spaces would be built as part of the development,
The plans and artist’s impression of the development which is expected to be approved by the council
83 for KFC and the pub and 12 for the care facilities. Access to the site would be from Darklands Road.
Highways officials at Derbyshire County Council have raised concerns about the use of the access by HGVs and the number of proposed parking spaces. It fears the development could impact on existing parking facilities.
The National Forest Company has encouraged the developer to alter the designs of the buildings to integrate more timber. It said: “The public house and drive-through appear to be off-the-shelf models which could be improved through the visible use of timber as a common theme. As well as providing some consistency this would also reflect other prominent buildings which include timber boarding, such as Sainsbury’s and the NHS walk-in centre nearby.”
Nine objections were submitted by people stating that the siting of the pub nearest to homes was not appropriate – nor was the building of a fastfood outlet on a main route to and from Pingle School.
Residents also feared an increase in anti-social behaviour, noise, smell, pests and littering.
But the applicant said: “New commercial facilities will benefit the area, adding to local choice and competition and will ensure immediate investment and streetscape enhancements.”
It aims to employ local construction firms to build the development.
Recommending approval, council officers wrote: “This is an important gateway site where inward investment would provide notable economic and social benefits.”