The future of a retail park development on the outskirts of Exeter has this week been thrown into jeopardy after planning officers recommended the local council deny planning permission.
Although developers the Consolidated Property Group have already gained outline planning permission for large swathes of the Moor Exchange retail park site, planning officers have expressed a concern that a large development would “affect the vitality and viability” of Exeter city centre. Furthermore, they claim that existing plans do not adequately inform the council of the impact such a development would have upon road links in the area.
Managing director Martin Ridgway of the Consolidated Property Group is hopeful that the local authority will allow work to go ahead.
He says; “We have made every effort to engage with the council’s planners to explain the function of this centre but it appears that our words have just been ignored.
“Our hope now lies with the planning committee members understanding the local need for these facilities and overturning the officer’s recommendation.”
In the planning application, the developers highlight the various benefits the £45 million scheme would bring to Exeter, one of which would be the creation of up to 400 jobs for local residents.
The developers also point out that there has been a high degree of interest from retailers and leisure brands to take up space, with TK Maxx Home Sense already having agreed to take up the anchor unit and Frankie & Benny’s, The Gym and Costa Coffee keen to acquire additional store space.
Despite the reservations of planning officers there has been a high level of local enthusiasm for the scheme, with the developers and local authority already having received more than 40 letters of support from nearby residents. Yet the concern that footfall in the city centre would be negatively affected by the scheme must be addressed, especially given Exeter’s large number of smaller and independent retailers.
Mr Ridgway argues that, rather than poaching customers from the high street, the Moor Exchange retail park would allow for a greater proportion of consumer spending to remain within the local economy.
He continues; “It [the Moor Exchange retail park] would also stop local residents having to drive out of the area to do their regular shopping trips.
“This message just does not seem to have got through and the recommendation is a snub to the many people who are supporting the scheme.
“The recommendation suggests that city council officers do not want to improve the local area and don’t want to help local companies ensure they have adequate facilities to attract the right calibre of staff.”
