The Government Inspector’s report into the Stafford Borough Local Plan appears to end proposals for a new supermarket on Westbridge Park.
The inspector says this in his report (which was published today) about retail development at Westbridge Park:
“Although there may be a case to update and improve the existing leisure centre, the retail element of the proposal is questionable”
“The introduction of new buildings, car parks and roads could also begin to change the character of this fringe of the park, and erode the appearance of this important gateway into the town and its historic Conservation Area”
“Parts of [Westbridge Park] are subject to flood risk and the latest scheme has not been subject to a detailed sequential test in terms of flood risk and flood mitigation measures”
“There is insufficient evidence to show that this site could be developed in the manner intended, particularly in terms of its retail location and flood risk”
The report follows the examination of the Local Plan in public that took place last year, after which Stafford Borough Council announced it would be removing reference to the controversial “mixed-use development” on the park. The borough council also removed Westbridge Park from an extended town centre boundary.
There are two stages to the Local Plan process. The first – which we’re currently in – is a strategic process, setting the level of need for housing, retail, employment land etc across the borough. The second – which will follow – is a site allocation process, where the specific locations for development are selected. Brace yourselves for a lot more consultation.
The borough council ran into trouble with the inspector because they had selected a specific site for development, something that this stage of the Local Plan process shouldn’t do.
Technically, the borough council can still attempt to see a supermarket development on Westbridge Park in the Site Allocation process. However, the inspector’s conclusions about any retail development on Westbridge Park mean it is highly unlikely that a supermarket will be built there.
The inspector’s conclusions about any retail development on Westbridge Park are pretty clear-cut.
But what happens now?
The planned supermarket was intended to fund new leisure facilities at Westbridge Park, including a new leisure centre, part of the borough council’s leisure vision for Stone. So how and when are we going to get new leisure and play facilities at Westbridge?
With the supermarket-funded idea now seemingly dead in the water, the ball is back with Stafford Borough Council on that one.
The Local Plan (Part 1) will now go before Stafford Borough councillors on 19th June for adoption
You can see the full Inspector’s report on the Local Plan HERE
1 comment
Andy Osgathorpe
I think the conclusions reached by the inspector are reasonable and very much in the interest of the majority of those concerned about the proposed building of a supermarket on Westbridge Park. What is apparent at this stage is there does not appear to be a plan “B”’ probably because the supermarket was the only focus of the plan. Indeed, I believe that whilst there were other sites discussed for supermarkets, there were no alternative proposals for Recreation & Leisure. I think we have two issues.
Firstly, there is the development of Westbridge Park in line with their own Recreation and Leisure consultant’s and Stone resident’s wishes in providing improved and modern leisure and recreational facilities in the park which are in keeping with the “tourist destination” objectives of the Town. That is to make the park more “park like” with landscaped and green features and proper play areas. With the success of yet another festival in the park, it is very evident that there is much potential in developing the park along these lines.
A second issue which emerges is the centralisation of Sport’s facilities because of a probable need to replace existing dated facilities, consolidation on Alleyne’s Sports Centre and Westbridge Centre for greater efficiency and economy and improve sports facilities to provide, extensive floodlit 3rd generation astro facilities suitable for all sport, modern up to date pools for adults and toddlers and fitness/cardio suites and aerobic studios. The site should be at Oulton because it is large enough and would have much greater usage, by our school children during the day/term times and the public at other times.