®Planning appeal decision
Units 2A and 3, Blackwater Shopping Park, Farnborough, GU14 8BL
Planning appeal 3273646 at Units 2A and 3, Blackwater Shopping Park, Farnborough, GU14 8BL (Rushmoor Borough Council) was allowed on 1 April 2022 by Inspector Smith D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would meet the sequential test for main town centre uses set out in the National Planning Policy Framework and whether it would have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Farnborough town centre.
Refurbishment and amalgamation of Units 2A & 3 including removal of mezzanine floors, revised car parking and servicing arrangements; relief from conditions to allow use as foodstore (Use Class A1) with new mezzanine floor for ancillary office and staff welfare facilities, storage and plant; use of part as mixed retail and cafe/restaurant (Use Classes A1/A3); extended servicing hours 0600-2300 Monday-Saturday and 0700-2000 Sundays; loss of parking spaces to front for paved area with trolley storage and cycle parking; new customer entrances; widening of vehicular access to provide twin exit lanes; and associated works.
- Authority
- Rushmoor Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- retail · Minor retail and services
- Inspector
- Smith D
- Postcode
- GU14 8BL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would meet the sequential test for main town centre uses set out in the National Planning Policy Framework and whether it would have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Farnborough town centre.
What decided it
The sequential test was passed because the only sequentially preferable site at Solartron Retail Park was not realistically available as a Lidl store was imminently opening there, and no other suitable, available and viable town centre or edge-of-centre sites existed.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP2Policy SS2Policy LN7Policy IN2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 87Paragraph 90
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.