I read today in the Biggleswade Chronicle and in the CBC press release :
that Marks & Spencer have agreed terms to open a store on the London Road Retail Park which will provide the full range of goods that they sell including clothing, furniture, homewares and their range of food and wines.
Over the years a number of food retailers have looked at this area only to be told it is designated retail warehousing (non food).
In August 2005, application MB/05/00851 for a food outlet was refused, and one of the reasons for refusal was :
"The application site is safeguarded for retail warehouse development and the proposal would undermine the purpose of this designation."
The only planning application I can find for this site which is still valid is MB/06/01891 (outline). The 18th March 2008 decision notice states: "The development hereby approved shall be for Non Food Retail Sales.."
The application for reserved matters MB/08/00517 approved July 2008, again said : "The development hereby approved shall be for Non Food Retail Sales.."
Unless I have missed something somewhere, the site is still designated for retail warehouse development, non food, unless of course you know differently.
LBX will be hosting a public exhibition of their plans for the site on Friday, 1st July between noon and 7pm at London Road Retail Park. If given the go-ahead, work will start next year.
Pets at home sells food
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