Bad News For Tesco

FOLOWING a public enquiry into objections made to the draft Local Plan for South Oxfordshire, the enquiry?s Inspector has now published his findings which include bad news for Tesco?s.
The supermarket giant challenged the drafts plan?s statement that the size of any retail unit built on the North Street Cattle market site in Thame, should be limited to 2,000 sq m. However, the Inspector concluded that:??there is no current real qualitative or quantitive need for a large new food store in Thame, whether on this site or elsewhere in or around the town. Bearing in mind the competing demands for community uses, the importance of creating a mixed use development in this sustainable central location, and the need for an economically viable scheme to emerge, I am satisfied that an upper limit on the amount of new retail provision is both reasonable and appropriate in such circumstances.?
Tesco asserted that the draft plan underestimated the retail need in Thame and that a new, large foodstore would help to ?claw back trade from Oxford, Aylesbury and the Asda store at Wheatley.?
The Inspector however stated: ??Thame is a relatively small market town serving a rural hinterland and retains a good range of small shops, including specialist food retailers and weekly, plus farmers markets, providing good choise for a centre of its size. Moreover, the latest survey indicates that recent improvements to the food retail offered in thame, through an extension to Waitrose, a refurbishment of the Co-op, and the opening of a Sainsbury?s Local have significantly increased the town centre?s retained proportion of convenience goods expenditure from around 55% in 2000 to about two thirds in 2004.?
The Inspector also addressed objections made to the Draft Plan?s policies on the sensitive Rycotewood site in Thame, including a concern that the existing access would be dangerous for residential or community use, and the suggestion that the policy should require a new access road to the rear of the site.
The Inspector stated in his report: ??there is no evidence to suggest or reason to assume that the scale and nature of the traffic movements generated by redevelopment would lead to a radically different pattern compared to those from the previous uses of the site. Consequently, given the opportunities for a possible separate pedestrian access to Oxford Road, and traffic calming along it, as well as the provision of a package of sustainable transport measures in accordance with criterion V), a separate alternative rear access is not necessary before redevelopment can occur.?
Changes in the wording of the Plan with further reference to Rycotewood, include the statement: ?..to protect the setting of the Prebendal and protect or enhance the character of the conservation area and its setting.?
This statement could have implications for a planning application recently re-submitted for the demolition of a large house at Priest End, and replacing it with a block of flats and associated parking, to which neighbours and Thame?s town council have objected.

A public meeting to discuss concept plans drawn up by the Cattle Market Action Group, will be held next Monday, June 20, at the town hall, beginning at 7.45pm.

The Inspector?s full report can be read on-line on South Oxfordshire District Council?s web site at:
Link