A PROPOSAL to change the number of small units on Bude’s Binhamy retail park has met opposition from the town council’s planning committee.

The decision last Thursday differs from the general support shown at an earlier planning meeting when Catesby Property Group outlined the plans.

They had been told that there were difficulties in attracting companies to take up the two sites but converting them to three units would be more attractive — fashion retailer Peacocks had already shown an interest, said Catesby’s planning director David Morris .

He gave an update to councillors on where Catesby currently stood with regards to the proposed B&M Home and B&M Garden Centre, as well as the other vacant units.

As Bude-Stratton Town Council and Cornwall Council had both approved the plans for the B&M aspect, Mr Morris said the firm hoped to start work on the development ready for Christmas, however, there had been some difficulties in attracting potential tenants into the other two vacant units because they were deemed too large for the catchment area.

For this reason, Mr Morris said Catesby had applied to alter the size of the units to three smaller ones.

Peacocks showed strong interest in operating at one of the smaller units and were in ‘serious discussion’ with Catesby, but Mr Morris added that this was not set in stone.

Planning committee members on January 7 felt that as the changed plans only altered the size of the units and not what could be sold in them, then no problem was envisaged — but they took a different view when the item was discussed at their meeting last Thursday.

One member of the public present who expressed views on the proposed plans was Bude’s Fashion Direct store owner Emma Holdcroft, who said: “I’m concerned about the negative impact that the change will have on Bude. Retail parks should offer something different to what is already in the town, whereas these smaller units will cause them to directly compete with shops in town.

“Even if shops aren’t directly competing with those at the retail park, the overall footfall will be taken away from the town centre so it will impact everyone.”

Mr Morris responded by saying that Catesby has been careful to try and avoid mistakes of previous applications in terms of the lack of conditions imposed upon them, and he hoped the latest one would have minimal impact on the town.

He added: “Although the three units are not as big as obviously they would be if there was just two, they are still large and of a size that I hope wouldn’t be in competition directly.”

He said there was strong interest from Peacocks but it had not been ‘set in stone’ in terms of contracts etc.

“The unit Peacocks has expressed interest in is unit B, which has 7,000 square feet, however, only 5,000 square feet of that will be for retail space — the rest would be used for storage.”

Planning committee chairman Cllr Bob Willingham said: “A lot of people have spoken to me and said that they’re worried about how it will affect the footfall in the town, and after listening to them all I think we should object to the three units and keep it to the original two larger units we approved before.”

Cllr Lea Deely said: “Seeing as B&M has already been accepted, I can’t see what greater difference three will make as opposed to two. Whatever you put there will always hit somewhere.”

Cllr Willingham added: “The difference is, and why there should just be two, is that they will have less of an impact on the town.

“It’s better to have two businesses affected than three, and for that reason I propose that we object because it will be one extra class of business that will be affected.”

The other councillors agreed with Cllr Willingham’s point but said they doubted it would make a difference when it came to Cornwall Council having the final say.

However, they were all in favour of objecting to the change of conditions from two to three units because of what they felt would be the additional adverse affect on the town centre.

Mr Morris later told the Post Catesby was ‘very disappointed and surprised’ by the town council’s objection to the application, which was positively received at the previous planning committee meeting.

“The application retains the strict controls relating to the type of goods that can be sold as per the previous (original) scheme and the addition of one unit will, in our view, not have a detrimental impact upon the town centre. Contrary to previous reports we have not signed an agreement with any operator apart from B&M Stores.

“It is important to put the application in context; the site already benefits from planning permission for five retail units of 5,000 square feet each, which we would be able to implement as a fall-back position. The Inspector in that instance when granting planning permission felt that units below 5,000 square feet would have a detrimental impact on the town centre. As a result we have decided to amend the current scheme to change Unit A to a 6,000 square feet unit and the town council will be notified accordingly.

“As a result we would wish to come and speak again with the town council and ask them to reconsider their view, particularly as the application does not create any additional retail space and no unit will be below the 5,000 square feet threshold set by the original outline consent.

“The town council previously recognised the benefits that this scheme would bring in terms of new jobs created, retaining shoppers within the town and the benefits of additional choice for existing shoppers.

“We are very surprised that the town council have not considered the fact that planning permission already exists for five retail units and would urge them to reconsider this application in a positive manner.”