South Holland District Council defers decision to change use of former Spalding department store

Plans to convert a former department store into a community hub have been deferred.

South Holland District Council’s planning committee tonight (Wednesday, March 6) has put back making a decision on The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church’s application to change the use of the former Coneys store in Broad Street, Spalding.

The applicants want to change the use of the former Hills store from retail to mixed use, comprising of ancillary retail, cafe, play space, offices, church, community meeting place and food bank.

During the lengthy debate, the application had received some support from members who felt the benefits of the scheme would outweigh any harm while others felt that this was the wrong location for such a scheme.

Councillors had been recommended to refuse the application by planning officers – and this was moved by Coun Allan Beal – but a counter proposal to approve the application was proposed by Coun Sophie Hutchinson.

Committee chairman, Coun James Avery, called for a 15 minute break for officers to ‘deliberate the ramifications of approving the application without a great level of detail.

After the break officers expressed concerns about how they would impose conditions for the range of uses planned for the building – which is not listed. Concerns had been expressed about noise.

Coun Hutchinson then changed her motion to defer the application for the applicants and council to work together to resolve issues and come up with appropriate conditions.

This was passed.