WAITROSE WIMBORNE!

Planners recommendation announced

East Dorset District Council's Planning Committee is being recommended not to support the proposed Waitrose Food Store in Wimborne.

The recommendation, from the Council's Planning Department, relates to a new retail store, car park, access and associated works with a new riverside park on the existing Cricket Ground at Rowlands Hill in Wimborne.

The plans are for a food store of 1,834 sqm and a warehouse with an area of 595sqm,with offices and staff restaurant at first floor level. Car parking would be on two levels and provide 215 spaces in total. The remaining part of the site (40%) would form a new public open space.

There are five reasons for refusal in the recommendation, however, the report by the Head of Planning and Building Control makes it clear the main reason is that the planning authority has a duty to have regard to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a conservation area and that this harm is not outweighed by the benefits associated with the Waitrose proposal.

The development of a supermarket and car park on a substantial part of this site would conflict with this objective due to the proposed building’s size and design, and the appearance of the car park together with its associated access arrangements. It would have a negative impact on its surroundings and cause harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area.

Currently, the site's existence makes an important and positive contribution to the local distinctiveness and special character of the Wimborne Minster Conservation Area in which it is situated. The site is one of the few remaining open spaces of any scale or note within the town centre.

Head of Planning at East Dorset District Council, Mike Hirsh, says: “There is merit in principle in a new food store in Wimborne. However, the importance of the quality of the cricket pitch to the local distinctiveness of the Town and its Conservation Area will be unacceptably damaged by the proposal.

"The merits of the package of proposals, including the new cricket pitch on the Leaze, make the decision a difficult one. The difficulty for the Committee is highlighted by the individual letters received from the public, which tend to show opinion is evenly split. At the time of going to print, there are 450 individual letters in support and 453 against. Hopefully, the report explains the range of issues clearly enough to help the Committee in their debate.

"However, under these circumstances I can readily understand if the Committee puts a different balance on some of the key issues and comes to a different conclusion.”

The Council’s Planning Committee meets at a special meeting on29 September at 10.30am at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne to decide on the plans.