Plans to develop a retail and leisure scheme in Fareham town centre would be damaged if proposals to extend out of town stores at Hedge End near Southampton are allowed, a public enquiry heard this week.
Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury are seeking consent to extend their Hedge End stores by 20%, but they are opposed by Fareham, Winchester, Southampton and Hampshire Councils.
The enquiry is being seen as a test case, dealing with the key issue of whether extensions to out-of-town stores are acceptable in the light of recent interpretation of PPG6, said Nigel Cooper of Colliers Erdman Lewis, who is advising the four councils.
The retailers are arguing that these are extensions, not new development and it is different from building new stores out of town, he said. The counter argument centres on the fact that the proposals are major developments, out of town, at a very powerful retail location. Cooper said the councils woud be arguing that the extensions would have an adverse effect on Fareham and on smaller centres at Bitterne and Portswood. The enquiry is expected to last two weeks.
EGi News 04/04/97
