The Government has refused Chelsfield’s application to extend Merry Hill Shopping Centre near Dudley by 42,000 sq m (452,100 sq ft) on the grounds that it is contrary to PPG6. But at the same time the inspector’s report opens the way for an expansion at a later stage.
The Government has given its clearest indication to date that it will block out of town retail development with the decision to reject plans to extend the Merry Hill Shopping Centre near Dudley.
Planning minister Richard Caborn has, as tipped yesterday, upheld the planning inspector’s view that proposals to extend the giant retail complex by 42,000 sq m (452,100 sq ft) would adversely affect neighbouring town centres, lead to increased traffic congestion, and would not be genuinely accessible by public transport.
Developer Chelsfield had argued that Merry Hill is a town centre in its own right, and that the extension would therefore strengthen an existing centre. But the inspector took the view that it is a regional shopping centre in an out of town location.
He accepted that the development when taken together with The Waterfront offers leisure and offices usually found in towns, but the report adds: “Critically, Merry Hill does not have a conventional town centre’s diversity of uses, nor does it provide a broad range of facilities and services which PPG6 identifies as a focus for the community and public transport.”
However the report concludes: “Merry Hill is not a town centre, at least not yet.” It goes on to say that the UDP Review would be the oppropriate opportunity for it to be designated a town centre and that the study commissioned by Chelsfield into whether Merry Hill should be viewed as a town centre “would inform the UDP Review process”.
EGi News 04/07/97
