SAVE WALDEN TOWN CENTRE
Fighting to oppose Sainsbury's and Tesco's
proposed supermarket developments
10 REASONS FOR OPPOSING THE TWO PLANNING APPLICATIONS
1. Both applications are contrary to national, regional and local planning policy.
2. Both applicants misrepresent the 'need' for more supermarket provision in the town. At the last Tesco extension planning Inquiry the inspector was not convinced that real demand existed or that choice would be enhanced. We already have two supermarkets.
3. Research data contradicts Sainsbury's claim that a new out-of-town supermarket would attract new shoppers to the town centre.* The retail experts report commissioned by UDC estimates that 90% of Sainsbury's turnover would be diverted from Waitrose, Tesco and the town centre.
4. Sainsbury's claim there will be at least a 10% reduction in convenience shopping footfall in the town. Government research says the real turnover loss is likely to be between 13% and 50%.* UDC's retail expert's report predicts that more than 40% of Waitrose's turnover would be lost to the new Sainsbury's; this would result in a massive loss of town centre footfall and consequently a serious impact on the rest of Saffron Walden town centre.
5. Government research shows that the main impact will be on local retail businesses - with potentially many ceasing to trade.*
6. There will be a negative impact on employment in the town with more jobs lost than created.
7. The transport impact will be significant. Unrealistic assumptions have been made about the number of shoppers arriving on foot, by bike or on public transport.
8. The air quality in the town, already at or above national safety limits in four key areas, will get worse because of the extra traffic generated.
9. 30% of Sainsbury's offer will be non-food items. 70% of Tesco's extension will be for non-food items. These will impact heavily on the viability of many local businesses.
10. Most of the Thaxted Road site is reserved for industrial and commercial use, not retail.
* See The Impact of Large Food Stores on Market Towns and District Centres
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Let us know that you support our Campaign.
2. Email your objections to Uttlesford District Council Planning Department or write to Planning, UDC, Saffron Walden, CB11 4ER.
3. Email your District Councillors. You can check here for the names of your District Councillors. Postal addresses can be found on the UDC website. Saffron Walden District Councillors can be emailed from here:
4. Send a message to your MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst.
FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Please join our Facebook group
We are on Twitter
PRESENTATIONS TO UTTLESFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL
Address to UDC Full Council Meeting (20 April 2010)
Address to UDC Development Control Committee (7 April 2010)
PRESS RELEASES
03 May 2010 Press Release
21 March 2010 Press Release
08 March 2010 Press Release
22 February 2010 Press Release
15 February 2010 Press Release
08 February 2010 Press Release
25 January 2010 Press Release
PRESS ARTICLE
Once Upon A Time - The Sad Story of Royston Town Centre by Clive Porter (April 2010)
WHO WE ARE
Save Walden Town Centre includes local retailers, businesses, Friends of the Earth, Walden in Transition, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (Essex) and concerned residents of Saffron Walden, as well as residents from Thaxted, Wimbish and other districts which will be blighted by the proposed developments.
WHAT ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT?
Sainsbury's have applied to build a new out-of-town supermarket in Thaxted Road, Saffron Walden, which would be bigger than the current Tesco and Waitrose combined. Tesco have applied for planning permission to expand their existing store by 55%. We believe that either of these proposals would have a devastating effect on Saffron Walden town centre. Sainsbury's say that there would be a 10% reduction in footfall in the town but we think the figure could be as high as 25% or more. Government research shows that new supermarkets typically reduce local store turnover by between 13% and 50%.
The impact will not just be on food stores in the town centre. Both Tesco's and Sainsbury's applications would have both a direct and an indirect negative impact on all shops, cafes and other facilities in the town. First, 70% of the proposed Tesco extension and 30% of the proposed Sainsbury's new store (i.e. sales areas each of around two thirds the size of Waitrose) would be devoted entirely to non-food items, competing directly with the town centre stores. Secondly, every shopper who switches from Waitrose to either Sainsbury's or Tesco is one less person coming into the town centre and visiting the local shops and amenities.
If both planning applications are approved, the Saffron Walden supermarkets floor space would more than double from 40,000 square feet to 95,000 square feet. The inevitable result of this would be that many of the smaller independent shops would have to close. Indeed, we would be very concerned about the long term future of the Waitrose store in the town centre. See this Government Report for the devastating effects that out-of-town centre supermarkets have on market towns.
Either application would lead to a significant increase in traffic in the town centre and a major increase in large delivery lorries passing through the town and neighbouring communities. For example, Sainsbury's are predicting around 9,000 journeys every Friday and Saturday just from people who do not currently shop in Saffron Walden.
WHAT'S THE TIME SCALE?
Both planning applications have already been submitted to Uttlesford District Council and are likely to be considered at a special Development Control Committee meeting in mid to late June 2010. See who's on the Committee.
WHAT'S GOVERNMENT POLICY?
One of the Government's key objectives for planning is to 'promote the vitality and viability of town and other centres as important places for communities. To do this, the Government wants new economic growth and development of main town centre uses to be focused in existing centres, with the aim of offering a wide range of services to communities in an attractive and safe environment'. See Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth. On 29 December 2009 the Housing and Planning Minster, John Healey, announced that government planning policy remains committed to protecting and promoting town centre economies.
WHERE CAN YOU SEE THE PLANNING APPLICATIONS?
See the Sainsbury's planning application.
See the Tesco planning application.
Read these applications with caution. We disagree strongly with many of the statements made in the documents prepared by Tesco and Sainsbury's. For a detailed analysis see the Friends of the Earth submissions below.
SOME OF THE KEY DOCUMENTS
Executive summary of the key issues
SWTC comments on the Sainsbury's Supplementary Retail Statement (19 May 2010)
SWTC comments on the Tesco Supplementary Retail Statement (14 May 2010)
SWTC submission on Retail Capacity, Need and Impact (10 May 2010)
SWTC comments on the Dec 2009 Savills Retail Study Appraisal of the Tesco application (29 April 2010)
SWTC comments on the Dec 2009 Savills Retail Study Appraisal of the Sainsbury's application (29 April 2010)
Friends of the Earth Supplementary Objection to Tesco and Sainsbury's Planning Applications (18 January 2010)
Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth (29 December 2009)
Planning for Town Centres: Practice guidance on need, impact and the sequential approach (29 December 2009)
Friends of the Earth Objection to the Tesco Planning Application (10 December 2009)
Friends of the Earth Objection to the Sainsbury's Planning Application (10 December 2009)
CPREssex Objection to the Tesco Planning Application (9 December 2009)
CPREssex Objection to the Sainsbury's Planning Application (9 December 2009)
The Impact of Large Food Stores on Market Towns and District Centres
CONTACT
For further information contact Paul Gadd at info@savewaldentowncentre.org
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