ANYONE hoping for a Starbucks drive-thru or a Tesco Express in the Harnham area will have to wait – after plans for a new convenience store and coffee shop were refused – against the advice of planning officers and new government guidance.
The scheme, submitted by Lloyd Armishaw, would have seen a brownfield site at Netherhampton Road, Harnham, developed to create the shop – understood to be a Tesco Express – a drive-thru coffee shop, alongside two industrial units with office space.
A total of 73 parking spaces would have been provided on the site, with an Armishaws Removals warehouse retained, with access to the site coming from the current entrance, from the A3094.
Responses from Wiltshire Council Highways and National Highways raised no concerns with regard to the plans, “subject to a robust travel plans and contributions to the Salisbury Transport Strategy”.
And no other consulted departments raised objections to the plans, with officers recommending it for approval at the council’s Southern Area Planning Committee meeting on August 20.
The scheme would have seen a brownfield site in Netherhampton Road developed. Picture: Google
Salisbury City Council did object to the application, “due to concerns about inappropriate overdevelopment of the site”, as well as the impact on residents of the retail units and signs. Traffic was also cited as a concern.
A total of 11 letters of objection were received, with two in support.
Submissions in support of the plans included the need for a “coffee shop and a supermarket in Harnham” due to a “lack of local services and facilities in south Salisbury”.
Support also came for the “opportunity to develop a brownfield site into something more interesting while providing infrastructure”.
Mr Armishaw told the meeting the site had been home to his removals business for more than 50 years.
“We intend to continue to trade and employ people from the site,” he said.
He said the proposed commercial buildings “could be used for business that would benefit the wider community”, with potential for use as a surgery, dentist or other ventures.
“The policies of the development plan for the area have been fully met,” he added. “A retail impact assessment agrees this is the best site available in the area.
“There is a need for a food and drink outlet on this route out of Salisbury, along with the creation of more employment.”
How the new convenience store might look on the site. Picture: Esdon Architecture
However, members of the committee voted to refuse the scheme, against the advise of council planners and despite fresh government guidance issued days before the meeting which outlined how schemes such as the Netherhampton Road development “should be approved unless the benefits of doing so would ‘substantially outweighed’ by any adverse effects”.
Wiltshire Council Highways was also noted in the application report as confirming “the scheme … accords with the transport-related policies” in the new guidance.
Now, following the refusal by councillors, including Harnham West representative Brian Dalton (Lib Dem), applicant Mr Armishaw said he is considering taking the issue to a planning appeal, where an inspector would consider the scheme and make a decision.
If an inspector opts to reverse the refusal of the committee, legal fees for the council and costs could run into tens of thousands of pounds – all payable from taxpayer funds.
“Units on the site could be used for a surgery, a dentist, any number of things that could benefit the community, as we believe the convenience store and drive-thru would,” Mr Armishaw added.
“Yet the committee went against the advice of their own planning officers and highways department, as well as National Highways, so it seems their opinion, that this application fell within the planning framework, was worthless.
“If that is the case, what is the point of having advice from a highways department, National Highways, and the council’s own planning officers?”
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