ACHIEVING PLANNING PERMISSION FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT, FOLLOWING 10 YEARS OF FAILED PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR THE SITE
Winning community support for a new Shopping & Leisure Centre on a derelict site, following years of failed planning applications by a series of developers and seemingly entrenched opposition.
The problem
- Resolute opposition by campaigning group set up to oppose the Shopping & Leisure Centre proposals. Group based on a federation of residents’ and tenants’ associations in the site ward.
The solution
- Public consultation of 15,000 local households and 500 local businesses undertaken on behalf of the Shopping & Leisure Centre developer.
- Individual and group meetings with residents living near the site to explore possible areas for compromise.
- Meetings with local traders, residents’ and tenants’ associations and pressure groups.
- Negotiations with Local Highway Authority to secure agreement to an additional right-turn onto a busy road - an aspiration of residents living opposite the site entrance.
- Detailed feedback on the Shopping & Leisure Centre developer’s response to public consultation, and information about revised proposals, provided to all consultation participants and councillors.
The result
- Shopping & Leisure Centre developer’s public consultation publicly praised by Planning Committee Chairman.
- Application for Shopping & Leisure Centre revised proposals unanimously approved.
Retail and Leisure