Partington store scheme rejected (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford's planning committee refuses store application for Partington because of fears it will hit regeneration plans

12:00pm Thursday 19th July 2012 in News Exclusive By Chris Griffin

The site of the former Greyhound pub

A SCHEME for a new convenience store in Partington has been given the thumbs-down - because of fears it could jeopardise the regeneration of the area.

Trader Mary Davey wanted to open a store on the site of the former Greyhound pub, at the junction of Manchester Road and Manchester New Road.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition backing the plan and the planning department received more than 180 letters of support and 190 feedback forms supporting it.

But developer Peel Holdings objected, claiming the store would scupper its long awaited redevelopment of Partington town centre.

The property giant said the anchor store that it is negotiating to sign up for the development would refuse to come if a competing store opened in the town.

It was claimed this would have a knock-on effect of deterring shops from coming to the other units, and also hit major residential schemes earmarked for the town.

Donna Barber from Turley Associates, the planning agent for Peel Holdings, told the planning committee: “This will not only jeopardise the delivery of the shopping centre but the wider regeneration of Partington.”

But applicant Ms Davey, who has been trading in Partington for 15 years, claimed her planned store would not affect the shopping centre .The anchor store in a redeveloped shopping centre would be for a ‘trolley’ shop while her store would cater for a ‘top-up basket shop.’ Members of the planning committee said they had to look at the ‘big picture’ of regenerating Partington.

Cllr John Smith, a Partington resident who represents the area, said: “Unless there is significant change in Partington two stores would struggle.”

Planning committee vice chairman, Cllr Dan Bunting, said: “The regeneration of Partington is our absolute priority.

“This could derail that which we have all worked so hard for, for such a long time.”

The committee voted to refuse the application on the grounds that it would hit investment in Partington shopping centre.

*PLANNING chiefs have backed a major housing development earmarked for Partington - a vital element of the regeneration blueprint for the town.

The scheme by Peel Investments and BDW Trading is for 195 homes to be built on two sites alongside the Manchester Ship Canal, off Hall Lane, Partington.

The houses would be the first phase of a planned ‘Partington Village’ complex of up to 550 homes.

Michael Nuttall, development planning manager at Peel, said the application marked a major step forward in the overall scheme, although there were still hurdles to overcome.

Cllr Mike Whetton said the scheme would be a ‘huge boost’ to Partington’s economy.

The planning committee agreed to reduce the level of developer contributions from £683,000 to £122,000, as it was told the payment of the full amount would mean the scheme would not be viable.