Supermarket launches fresh bid to open store

A FRESH planning application for a new £15 million Sainsbury's supermarket in Portishead has been submitted.

Bosses at the supermarket submitted a new application for a 30,000 sq ft store at Serbert Way in the town earlier this month, despite already having permission to build a new store.

The fresh application incorporates a number of new features, including charging points for electric vehicles and a biomass boiler.

The move by Sainsbury's to submit a new application comes after rival supermarket The Co-operative, which has a store at Wyndham Way, launched a legal challenge against North Somerset Council's decision to grant permission for a new Sainsbury's in the town.

Bosses at The Co-operative are calling for a judicial review, claiming the decision was unlawful and based on incorrect information about the impact a new store would have on the town.

It claimed that the opening of a new Sainsbury's in Portishead could force them – and other stores – out of business.

Sainsbury's had been due to start work on building the new store this summer.

But the legal challenge means that the opening of the new store could be delayed by up to two years.

However, if North Somerset approves the new planning application it means delays could be cut to a matter of months, as the legal challenge is only against the initial application.

The new application is due to be discussed by planners and councillors in the coming weeks.

The Co-operative Group said it would consider mounting a legal challenge against the authority if it gave the go ahead for the new plans, based on information contained in the retail assessment submitted as part of the initial application.

Co-operative chiefs also said the supermarket plan was contrary to North Somerset's own Local Plan and Core Strategy Document.

North Somerset Council appointed consultants to carry out an evaluation of the retail assessment put forward by Sainsbury's, who said that the arrival of Sainsbury's would have "no significant adverse impact on the town and that the High Street would benefit from an increased footfall as a result".

Experts also said the new supermarket would prevent people going out of town to do their weekly shopping.

The town's Co-operative store has an annual turnover of £11 million and the firm claimed this would be halved when Sainsbury's opened.

A spokesman for The Co-operative said: "Having made strong and consistent representations throughout the planning process to highlight the inadequacies of the proposals, we are extremely disappointed the council has made such a perverse decision.

"If allowed, this would be seriously detrimental to the vitality and viability of Portishead town centre."

Ben Littman, Sainsbury's regional development surveyor, said: "The planning application for a more sustainable Sainsbury's store in Portishead is now with North Somerset Council for consideration and we look forward to presenting to members of the planning committee once the council's officers have reviewed the plans.

"In the meantime, we will continue to liaise with the Town Council, Chamber of Commerce and any other groups or individuals who are interested in the proposals."

The new Sainsbury's would create 270 full and part-time jobs. It would feature an in-store bakery, restaurant and a 338-space car park.

The fresh application includes the introduction of ceiling windows that reduce the need for artificial light, charging points in the car park for electric cars and changes to the internal layout.

There are plans to open a new petrol station once a site has been found and a planning application is expected in the near future.