The planning application for a Marks & Spencer Foodhall with cafe at Westbridge Park has now been submitted. The borough council issued a press release today, which is reproduced below in full.
You can see the full planning application – and submit your comments – HERE
Borough council press release:
New multi million pound leisure development in Stone moves step forward
A new development which will help pave the way for multi-million pound leisure facilities in Stone has moved a step closer.
Plans for an M&S Foodhall on the already developed area of Westbridge Park have now been submitted.
It forms part of a £6 million scheme which will include a new leisure centre and play area for the park. The centre is expected to be open in February 2018 and a design team has already started work on the project. The current leisure centre will remain open throughout the development.
Money from the sale of land to build the M&S Foodhall on will help pay for the exciting leisure plans. It will have an 80-space car park and café creating 45 new jobs – and developer Liberty Properties say the location of the store will encourage visits to the High Street. Now a detailed planning application has been submitted to Stafford Borough Council.
Emyr Williams, Development Director with Liberty Properties, said: “We have worked with the Borough Council and Marks & Spencer to bring forward a quality retail scheme, in keeping with the local area. This exciting development will improve the local offering and encourage linked trips in to the town centre.”
The £4.5 million leisure centre will boast a six lane swimming pool, top of the range gym equipment, as well as fitness rooms and improved changing accommodation. The proposals mean the undeveloped green area of Westbridge Park will be protected.
All money from the sale of the council owned land will be pumped into the leisure offer for Stone and, along with savings made by running the centre and swimming pool from Westbridge Park, will mean cash for the scheme does not have to be raised through local tax payers.
The proposals will see a new Guide Hut built on the park with final designs expected to be discussed by the council and Guides shortly.
Councillor Patrick Farrington, leader of the Borough Council, said the proposals were one of the biggest investments the Council had made from its own resources for decades. He said: “We took on board feedback from local people and this helped make our agenda clear – delivering excellent leisure facilities for Stone, without losing valuable green space on the park and not burdening local tax payers. The M&S food offering will be built away from the green area of the park. It is also a store which we think will complement the very successful Food and Drink Festival and High Street, and bring people to Stone providing a boost to the local economy.”
The reference number for the proposal is 16/24242/FUL and people can view all planning applications at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/planning-public-access. The plans will now go before a future meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee.
2 comments
David Dumbelton
There are some improvements from the earlier draft plan, such as the delivery area moving to the side of the building, with acoustic fencing, and green space being created between the building and the towing path but basic problems still remain, that of visibility and dominance.
I propose, for the benefit of residents of the Moorings and users of the canal, that the whole development is moved southwards, so that the shop is on the site of the existing sports centre and the new sports centre beyond that.
This suggests that permission granted to the developers is dependent on the replacement sports centre being developed first and the old one cleared. The tennis courts could remain or be constructed elsewhere and the site returned to greenspace. There would be no need to relocate the Guides’ building on that basis.
Laurence Tunnicliffe
Let’s wait and see how long before Alleynes sports centre is pulled down for a new academy and housing to fill some of the site and the site of the old school?