Do we need it (whether we want it or not)?

This is one of the main questions that the Public Inquiry will be asking, whether or not Glastonbury actually 'needs' another supermarket, or even a superstore.
What is very interesting is that many of the issues of this application relate to national planning issues, hence the intervention by the Secretary of State.


Re: The Application by Avalon Plastics
Location: Wirral Park Road, Glastonbury
Proposal: erection of A1 Retail Foodstore

In order to justify the proposal, Mendip's 'Development Control' officer Edward Baker, and his colleagues, must demonstrate that it conforms with the policies and provisions of the draft RSS, the current RSS (RPG10), the Mendip Local Plan and the Somerset & Exmoor NP Joint Structure Plan Review

Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6): Planning for Town Centres
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps6
Considerations:
- Demonstrate that there is a need, both qualitative and quantitative
- Impact on the existing centres
- Scale as relating to function and role
- Accessible by a choice of transport methods, including impact on overall distance and effect on levels of local traffic and congestion
- Impact on physical regeneration, employment, economic growth and social inclusion

Planning Policy Guidance 13 (PPG13)
http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/planningpolicyguidance/planningpolicystatements/planningpolicyguidance/ppg13/
Considerations:
- Need for development which:
- promotes sustainable transport choices
- promotes access to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities & services, by public transport, cycling and pedestrians
- reduces the need for travel, especially by car

Current Regional Planning Guidance (RPG10)
http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Environment/Planning+policy/Development+Plan/rss.htm
(various downloadable material available)

Mendip District Local Plan & The Somerset and Exmoor National Park Joint Structure Plan
http://www.mendip.gov.uk/CouncilService.asp?id=SX9452-A77F9DE9
Considerations:
- Building in Quality (Section 4) - General development control policies applying to all developments (design, amenity, protection of open spaces, access requirements, landscaping, infrastructure etc) and polices relating to development in specific areas (eg close to sewage works) or to certain forms of development
- Supporting the Mendip Economy (Section 5) - Employment policies, agricultural diversification, agricultural workers dwellings, tourism uses and home working
- Promoting Town Centre Vitality (Section 6) - Retailing and town centre uses
- Environmental Assets (Section 7) - Nature conservation, landscape, green belt, archaeology, water and flooding, agricultural land, conservation areas and listed buildings
- Managing Energy and Resource Demand (Section 8) - energy conservation, renewable energy, water conservation, recycling of building materials
- Meeting the Community' Social Needs (Section 9) - Housing including affordable housing, density, recreational provision, sites for gypsies and other travelling people, Leisure, Community Facilities including village facilities, Transport including car parking requirements, accessibility, protection of transport routes and car parks


http://www.planninghelp.org.uk/planning-system/departure-applications/the-call-in-process
In pursuance of Article 14 of the 1995 Order, the Secretary of State hereby directs the Council not to grant planning permission for any development which is the same kind as that which is the subject of the application referred to above on any land which forms part of, or includes, the site to which the application relates until the Secretary of State has issued her decision on that application.
(so these issues also refer to the new Sainsbury's supermarket plan for Wells)


Comments and corrections are welcome!