Telford & Wrekin Council challenge Newport supermarket decision
Telford & Wrekin Council is to challenge a decision by a planning inspector to give the go ahead for plans for an out of centre supermarket site at Audley Avenue, Newport.
Following a public inquiry in May, a planning inspector approved the planning application for the demolition of existing commercial buildings at Audley Avenue so a foodstore, café, access, highway improvements, servicing and parking can be built.
Telford & Wrekin Council has now brought an application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to the High Court of Justice to challenge the inspector’s decision to give the all clear to the Audley Avenue site.
The council believes that if the Audley Avenue site gets the go ahead, it sets a serious precedent for further development in Newport.
By appealing the decision, the council is seeking to protect financially important Section 106 highways payments associated with the site.
Without financial contributions from private developers, there is a risk that the road and other essential infrastructure that is necessary to make the development acceptable may not be constructed or the costs of providing it will fall on local taxpayers.
As the Local Planning Authority, the council also believes that a different site at Station Road is “sequentially preferable” to the Audley Avenue site and wants to protect this principle to achieve the best planning outcome for the area.
Planning applicants St Modwen had submitted an application for a supermarket at Station Road, Newport, and this was approved by the council’s Plans Board on April 25. The Secretary of State has called this in for the application to be determined at a full public inquiry.
Michael Barker, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Assistant Director for Planning, said: “The planning inspector agreed with the council’s conclusion that the construction of a supermarket on the edge of Newport would not damage trade in the High Street.
“It has always been the position of the council as Local Planning Authority that the Audley Avenue proposal is not the best solution for development of the southern edge of Newport. This application would have been refused by the council’s Plans Board.
“We believe the planning inspectorate’s grounds for allowing the appeal are flawed and consequently we are challenging the decision using the legal avenues open to us.
“These decisions are very important for Newport as once the development is built, it will be there for many years. Our duty as planning authority is to make the best decisions for the future of the borough and not to accept second best for Newport or anywhere else.”
St Modwen, as planning applicants for the Station Road site in Newport, are also challenging the planning inspector’s decision.
