Scotmid "disappointed" after losing Armadale planning appeal

May 5 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

SCOTMID say they are disappointed to have lost their appeal against the decision to refuse them planning permission for a new supermarket in Armadale.

A Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers rejected their appeal because of the “retail and transport impact” the proposal would have on the town.

The supermarket chain was one of several bidders whose proposals for a store in the town came before the full council last May.

Scotmid wanted to build on their current site and Volunteer Park — the home of Armadale Thistle.

Their plans included a reduction of their existing store on West Main Street by two-thirds and a redevelopment of the Arnold Clark showroom.

They then proposed to build a supermarket, to be occupied by another as yet unknown chain, with 150 car parking spaces on the site of the football ground.

Despite their bid being identified by officers as the best site for the supermarket because of its town-centre location it was recommended for rejection as no planning permission for an alternative home for Armadale Thistle, who currently occupy the site, was in place.

The supermarket identified Watson Park as a potential new home for the junior football outfit but their application had not yet been heard by the planning committee.

At the meeting last May councillors voted in favour of granting the local authority’s own bid to build on Watson Park and SDA Limited’s plans for a supermarket on land at Armadale Station.

And the Reporter for the Scottish Ministers said she agreed with the council’s view that there was not room for three supermarkets in Armadale.

She wrote: “I do not agree with the appellant’s argument that the appeal proposal’s edge-of-centre location would positively support the town centre and as a result the additional 1,231 square metres of net convenience floor space could also be implemented without any adverse impact.

“I therefore accept that the implementation of all three retail developments would have an unacceptable, cumulative, adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Armadale town centre and other town centres in the area.”

The Reporter was also concerned with the lack of information on the potential impact the new supermarket at Volunteer Park would have on traffic at the busy Armadale Cross junction.

She added: “The council have drawn my attention to two of their assessments. These conclude that the traffic impact of the Watson Park and Armadale Station consents would be acceptable and the impact of all three retail developments would be unacceptable.

“Without the rigorous findings of a transport assessment I find that I am unable to extrapolate with any certainty what the traffic impact of the appeal proposal and the Armadale Station consent would be.

“I regard this uncertainty as unacceptable.”

Malcolm Brown, head of communications for Scotmid, said they were disappointed at the outcome of their appeal but had to “give it a go” for the community.

“I think we had to go for it again and put in the appeal because we had such a strong case the first time and so much work had gone into it,” Mr Brown added.

“The appeal basically failed on the traffic survey which was disappointing overall.

“However it was good to see support for some of our parts of the appeal.

“It will be interesting to see what now develops going forward.

“We don’t regret the efforts that we did to try and safeguard the future of Armadale town centre. Only time will tell now if the decisions that have been made will impact the way we think it will which is negatively on the future of that town centre.

“Scotmid continues to be a great supporter of the community in Armadale through our food store, Semi-Chem and our funeral service.”