Amber Valley Borough Council planning officers are to have detailed pre-planning application discussions with Tesco on proposals for a new superstore in Belper.
Director of Borough Development, Carl Whysall said “We have a number of key concerns over proposals by Tesco for a new superstore and by-pass for Belper. Tesco was asked late last year to undertake work to assess the economic impact on the town along with a heritage viability assessment to identify how any proposals would integrate with and enhance that situation. A full, detailed transport assessment that paid attention to the proper integration of the proposal, including pedestrian footfall was also requested”.
He continued, “Some of this work has been completed by Tesco but key concerns remain. The planning and conservation officers need to have these discussions with Tesco to ensure they are properly considered and addressed. This will not prejudice any future planning application by Tesco or bind the Councillors who will finally determine any planning application. It is to ensure that when a planning application is submitted, it addresses in detail the key considerations identified in an open and transparent way”.
Planning officers are working closely with other key agencies including English Heritage, Derbyshire County Council’s Design and Conservation Team and the Environment Agency in responding to Tesco’s proposals. The Council will also keep ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites well informed because of the sensitivity of this site on the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
It is intended that a draft development brief for the site will be prepared by officers and once approved by the Council, it will become part of the criteria against which a planning application will be determined. The draft development brief will be subject to public consultation that the Council hope will include a local exhibition in the town.
Planning officers have already advised Tesco that it should set up a liaison group comprised of interested local people, including for example Belper Town Council and the Belper Civic Forum, and with whom it could discuss its proposals at an early stage.
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News release issued by the Council’s Policy and Change Unit (01773 841655)
Editor’s Note:
Tesco’s outline proposals involve the building of a new superstore on land off Derwent Street, Belper. The development would also involve a new access road to serve the new store. The proposed road would run from the Morrison’s roundabout, north to the Triangle and to the rear of existing properties on the west side of Bridge Street. The Tesco proposals also include a number of other ancillary developments including a new library, petrol filling station, shops and houses.
Pre-application advice is encouraged on large or sensitive proposals and the process is clearly set out in the Council’s ‘statement of community involvement’ that is available on the Council’s web site under ‘Local Development Plan’. The process is designed to ensure that developers are made aware of and can take into consideration key concerns of a development at a very early stage. Such discussions do not prejudice any planning application or fetter the Council’s rights to properly determine any subsequent planning application. They are an aid to better planning. The community’s views can also be taken into consideration where a local liaison group is formed.
A development brief sets down the framework against which any planning application would be assessed. The brief interprets local and national policy and applies it to the particular circumstances of the site. Development briefs are open to public consultation. Any representations received are considered, where appropriate the brief may be amended before being considered by the Council’s Planning Board for approval. Developers would normally develop their detailed proposals to conform to the brief.
Tesco will develop its proposals for Belper with a view to the submission of a planning application later this year. Tesco will be made aware of the views of planning and conservation officers on the key issues at a series of forthcoming meetings. Tesco will be encouraged to respond positively to those views. If and when a planning application is received the Council will be given 13-weeks in which to determine the application. It will be processed and determined as all other planning applications. The community will be encouraged to make representations on the proposals and in view of the scale and impact of this proposal, it is likely that a local public exhibition will be organised. The proposal will also be available to view on the Council’s web site. The Council’s Planning Board to which members of the public are welcome will take the final decision. At that meeting the public will be able to address the Planning Board before a decision is taken.
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