Controversial plans for convenience store approved

Central England Co-operative’s application for the erection of a convenience store with parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure – on the land and passageway between 637 And 639 Warrington Road – came before the planning committee on Tuesday.

The committee was told that the proposed development will “provide a boost for the local economy, complementing the existing retail offering in Rainhill, and creating jobs for local people” – while simultaneously re-developing a “vacant and overgrown plot of land” in a way which is “sympathetic” to the area’s landscape character and achieves a “biodiversity net gain”.

Many concerns have been raised over the plans.

Cllr Donna Greaves said she was at the meeting “solely to represent the residents”, the over 200 who objected with their views.

“I’m not a planning person, so please forgive my lack of jargon and terminology this evening and please afford me the mutual respect that I would afford to you if you were to be appearing in front of my area of knowledge,” she said.

She stated that “highway and pedestrian safety has been brought to our attention”.

Cllr Greaves also said the main artery of the A57 “anytime of day is significant” – and the A57 still serves as an alternative to using the M62 and when it is closed or restricted it is “backed up immensely”.

She added that this site “will only impact further the safety of pedestrians and the flow of traffic on an already precarious stretch of road”.

According to a report to the committee, Central England Co-operative is “completely independent” from The Co-operative Group – which, “it has been noted”, operate a convenience store in Rainhill district centre – but it is “part of the wider co-operative movement”.

“The application site comprises vacant, brownfield land that is overgrown across most of the site,” said the report.

“The most recent use on the site was a care home, this building was demolished in 2013.

“The site is located within a predominantly residential area with access off Warrington Road.”

The store’s operating hours were proposed to be 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.

Since submission, the proposal had been amended. The amendments include reducing the height of the building from approximately 8.25 metres to 6.1 metres to allow the roof to be “more proportionate to the remainder of the building”.

The application was publicised by way of neighbour notification letters and a site notice.

A total of 215 letters of objection were received, and four letters of support were received.

The main points for the objections, as summarised in the report, included highway safety concerns, increased traffic “is not good” for the environment, “very out of place” in a residential area, the land should be used for “something which benefits the community”, and “taking business away from local stores that have great community benefits and are in more convenient locations”.

The main points in support, as summarised in the report, included that it will give the community “more options” for shopping, and a “better option for a general store, more stock than local store”.

The report to the committee said the proposed store will “bolster Rainhill’s convenience provision”.

It added: “The new development will provide workflow to smaller local construction companies and associated contractors.

“There will be an opportunity for 20 staff to be employed at the convenience store which will provide an opportunity for local employability.

“Provision of the convenience store will increase the number of residents who would be within walking distance.

“The proposals will promote sustainable transport by enabling those residents within walking and cycling distance to meet their day-to-day shopping needs without having to use a vehicle.”

As recommended, the application was approved subject to conditions.