PLANS for a Bridgnorth DIY store and garden centre are set to be finalised by councillors next week – three months after being put on hold because of concerns about the design.
Sainsbury’s want to build the outlet, together with 134 parking spaces, as part of the package for the Old Smithfield.
The completion of the first leg of the development, which involves the construction of the Whitburn Street relief road, is imminent.
District councillors will be recommended on Monday, by director of development control Trevor Tarran, to approve the DIY and garden centre design and their outside appearance with conditions, and provided the highways authority is satisfied that service vehicles have room to turn.
Outline permission for the DIY and garden centre, extending Sainsbury’s store, erection of four shops, parking and the relief road were given in 2005. But progress hit a snag last November when the district council’s development control committee deferred the DIY and garden centre design details for further negotiations with Sainsbury’s.
The two-bay DIY store and partially open garden centre are earmarked for the former Smithfield North car park, between the medical centre, cricket ground, Sainsbury’s store and the relief road.
‘The building will be more in keeping with the local vernacular and blend in with the existing large-scale buildings on either side,’ reports Mr Tarran.
Landscaping would involve trees planted between the site and the relief road, as well as shrubs and ground-cover planting. There would also be an outside seating area at the rear of the store.
Town councillors backed the design application at a meeting on Monday. “They have improved the DIY store design,” said town council planning committee chairman Councillor Dave Walker.
“Members were a bit concerned about how it would impact on the area and street scene and it could do with more tweaking, but in principle we support the application,” he added.
Sainsbury’s spokesman Sue Bailey said that the proposed store and garden centre had yet to be marketed.
“There is no timescale for the development,” she said. She added that a completion date for the relief road could be announced next week.
Shropshire County Council has advertised plans for zebra and puffin crossings on the relief road and anyone wishing to comment on those should write to The Shirehall by March 3.