Controversial plans for new Co-op store rejected by planning chiefs
Controversial plans to build a convenience store on a pub car park in Kendal have been rejected after an appeal.
Proposals to construct a Co-op in the Duke of Cumberland pub car park on Appleby Road next to the A6 have been dismissed due to concerns over flooding.
The former South Lakeland District Council had previously rejected the planning application in August 2022 due to concerns over car parking as well as flooding.
Developers Punch Partnerships (PML) Limited appealed to the planning inspectorate after the refusal.
And while a report from the planning inspectorate said there would be some ‘economic benefits’ including construction spend and local employment they ruled the adverse impacts of placing the store within an area of flood risk would outweigh these benefits.
Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron was pleased the application has been turned down.
He said: “These plans would have had a massively negative impact on traffic congestion, pedestrian safety and also would threaten the business of local shops nearby like Burrells Newsagent and Sandylands Spar.
“I want to thank local residents and local Liberal Democrat councillors Eamonn Hennessy, Shirley Evans and Jonathan Cornthwaite for campaigning to have these plans finally, we hope, defeated.”
The applicant had also proposed to redesign the beer garden and reconfigure the existing car park to provide 25 car parking spaces.
A planning statement added: “The development will enhance employment locally as the proposed convenience store would employ 20-25 full and part time members of staff. The addition of a new store will help boost the local economy.”
A report prepared for a previous South Lakeland District Council meeting said: “The proposed development would not give first priority to pedestrian and cycle movements within the scheme or neighbouring area. Moreover, the lack of physical separation at the Appleby Road crossover has the potential to have an unacceptable impact on highway safety.”
The planning committee received 714 objections to the application.
