Dobbies plans hit by further complication

dobbies

Planning application 10/1323M for an extension to SE Matthew's original planning permission (03/3214P) was refused this week by the Strategic Planning Board.

Permission was granted on 9th March 2005 for the original Matthews Garden Centre to be relocated across the road. Dobbies Garden World application (09/3109M), which was submitted on September 28th 2009, sought to draw on the approved planning permission for the relocation of the original Matthews Garden Centre and transfer this consent to another site down the road. However, this had since expired because it required the development to commence within 5 years, or within 2 years of approval of the last of the reserved matters which happened on 18th April 2008.

The Strategic Planning Board refused an extension on the grounds that there had been a change in circumstances, insufficient information had been provided regarding the mitigation of the Great Crested Newts, which are a protected species, and the lack of a satisfactory S106 Agreement.

Councillor Frank Keegan, who attended Wednesday's meeting, said "I spoke against the application because the original permission was given for special circumstances, to facilitate Matthews staying in business in Nether Alderley. However they had moved away to Somerford Booth so the special reasons no longer existed because the business was trading from a different location.

"I also objected to the application because the agent for Matthews was the joint applicant for the Dobbies application and the Land Registry revealed that there was an agreement between Matthews and the agent to sell on the site. Also whilst it could not be a reason for refusal, the point was made that if this renewal were to be allowed then Dobbies would build on that permission."

Rodney Hamer, from Alderley Rural Protection Organisation, who spearheaded the Stop Dobbies campaign, said "A good victory, but a cautious one. They have six months to appeal, though I doubt that they will. What happens next with regard to the Dobbies Frog Lane application remains to be seen.

"Our thanks to Roger Fowler, the Edge Association and all those wonderful individuals whose wise counsel, strengths, support and donations have taken us this far."

Stuart Wright, Property Director at Dobbies Garden Centres, said yesterday "Our application has been and continues to be complex in relation to the planning for our Frog Lane proposal.

"We are currently assessing the Council's decision on the Matthews site and will have further dialogue with the Council in due course."

Tags:
Dobbies, Planning Applications
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Jon Williams
Friday 29th October 2010 at 2:40 pm
I am a little disapointed in this.

We have thousands coming off sickness benefit and joining the dole queue's next year, also single parents are being targeted as well, this would show we are doing our bit for the community and not saying "not in my back yard, thankyou"

You can't put a Garden Centre like Dobbies in a small town/village centre, it would have been ideal.
Dominic Brown
Saturday 30th October 2010 at 9:16 pm
Well said Jon, we are supposed to be in it together but I guess only when it suits us..
Colin Winter
Sunday 31st October 2010 at 4:27 pm
Modern garden centres turn into furniture, clothes, stationery (and more) shops and are department stores.

This rural centre is entirely inappropriate for this activity and would conflict with the guarantee that the new by-pass would be kept free from commercial development in order to leave a clear way for through traffic.
Brian Etchells
Monday 1st November 2010 at 8:19 am
I wasn't aware that the planned Garden Centre, that would have also sold Garden furniture was actually on the bypass, so why the misleading comment.

I do believe that Matthews Garden Centre sold all the above articles, but they got planning permission.

Yes Dobbies would have been bigger, but bigger means more jobs. In times of recession, we shouldn't be refusing jobs for the sake of a few Great Crested Newts.

Mr. Keegan, when was the last time you looked at the size of Astra Zeneca, with its huge car parks and massive buildings which will all be bulldozed with the planned cuts.