Developers get go ahead for Armadale supermarkets

Feb 4 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

ARMADALE Community Council have recommended that two developers be given permission to build supermarkets in the town.

The sites at Armadale Station and the Dundas bid for land at Colinshiel Farm, just off Bathgate Road, were picked by the community council after extensive consultation with the people of the town.

At the moment there are eight different proposals on the table with six developers along with West Lothian Council and Sainsbury’s, vying for support in bids to win planning approval.

The topic has dominated community council meetings for the past year after they first held a public meeting on the bids in March.

With council planning officials considering many of the proposals the community council, chaired by Elizabeth Hands, organised another meeting in October to allow residents to quiz representatives from each of the developments.

And after taking into account all of the views of the people of Armadale expressed at the meetings and through extensive consultation in the form of questionnaires and e-mails two sites have been chosen.

Community council chairwoman Elizabeth said: “The community council decided to recommend that two sites be given permission as this would reflect the intended growth in housing in Armadale.

“The site which gained most approval and was by far the front runner was the site at the new railway station.

“The second site was not as clear cut. The site next to Drummonds Haulage was the second choice but the Volunteer Park was a close third.

“However, as the Volunteer Park would probably mean losing the public facility of Watson Park, as they are consulting about building there, the community council cannot support this move.”

The chairwoman said the Dundas bid, next to Drummond Distribution, would be their second choice site as it was close to the town centre, on a bus route and would clear up a piece of waste ground.

The people behind the Armadale Station bid are developers SDA Limited. They told the Courier in June that their ambitious plans could eventually bring more than 4500 permanent jobs to the area.

The 40,000 square foot supermarket with car parking for 600 cars would amount to £25 million of investment in Armadale and deliver 300 jobs and would be built on land adjacent to the new railway station which is due to be open in December 2010.

Sandra Carter of SDA Ltd said: “We are delighted that the extensive survey undertaken by the community council has indicated that Armadale Station Community Development, focused on the new railway station, is the favoured location for the proposed supermarket.

“Our proposal aims to deliver a fully integrated Armadale, with a new primary school, supermarket and other facilities including a multiplex cinema, nursing home, small shops and offices, extensive public parks and 1000 houses and flats, of which up to 250 will be affordable.

“We are fully committed to Armadale, as exemplified by our sponsorship of the centenary Gala Day this year, and have thoroughly enjoyed explaining, and receiving feedback on our scheme from the various groups, organisations and individuals we have spoken with in Armadale.

“We look forward to continue working with them and the Council to progress this project.”

The Dundas bid is for a 65,000 square foot supermarket with parking and petrol station on an 8.65 acre derelict site located off Bathgate Road.

A spokesman behind the bid said the proposed supermarket would be capable of accommodating a foodstore that will meet the main food shopping trip for the people of Armadale.

He added: “We are part of the community ourselves and we see our development as working in partnership with the people.

“At present, we do not have a named operator for our site and we would welcome the views of the local community to see what thoughts they have on the provision of a supermarket for the town.

“To find out more about our development, come along to our Public Exhibition in the Armadale Library on Thursday, February 18 between 6 and 7.45pm.”