Loss of prime retail space at former Coneys store would undermine vitality and viability of Spalding town centre say planners
Planners say that a bid to convert a vacant department store into a church, soft play area and youth club would ‘undermine the vitality and viability’ of Spalding town centre.
South Holland District Council’s planning committee is again being recommended to refuse The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church application for the former Coneys store in Broad Street, Spalding.
In March, the committee had deferred making a decision on the scheme to change the use of the empty store in order for officers and the applicants to work together to resolve issues and come up with appropriate conditions.
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.
A report to Wednesday’s meeting states that the church had provided a management plan and marketing information from estate agents, Savills along with Pygott and Crone which shows no further interest or offers have been made on the building.
However, officers remain concerned about the impact of losing a ‘key retail anchor store’ in Spalding.
While it is accepted that cafe and soft play area are ‘commensurate uses, the loss of 248sqm of prime retail floor space at ground floor to form a youth club is not succinct with retail policies’.
The report concludes: “The application relates to a key building located within the primary shopping area. It is considered that the loss of retail related and town centre uses of this building coupled with the previous losses of nearby buildings to non-retail uses would undermine the vitality and viability of Spalding town centre as a retail and town centre uses destination and, instead replacing key town centre floor space with community uses.
“The application does not sufficiently justify why a location within the primary shopping area (which strategically focuses on town centre uses) is required.
“The application site is considered to be poorly placed for non-retail and non-town centre uses particularly given its location within primary shopping area, located in close proximity to Spalding Market Place, there is already a number of other non-retail uses located within close proximity and, it is considered that if approved the proposal would have a negative impact on the activity within a centre undermining Spalding’s primary shopping area as a retail led destination and, therefore, is recommended for refusal.”
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