I get a lot of people asking what’s happening with the proposal for an out of town store at Rocks Green. The proposal was first announced in the summer of 2014. The planning application was submitted the following January. But nothing seems to have happened of late.
I am concerned that this application is beginning to cast a shadow over our town centre. I emailed council planners on 18 November 2015 to set out my concerns about the slow progress of the application. Here is the response I received yesterday, more than two months after my email.
Councillor Boddington
As you have noted in your email there remains issues regarding the potential impact on the town centre and the underground fuel tanks that have not yet been resolved. In addition to these issues Highways England have now also raised concerns about the lack of information to understand the impact on the major highway network (their detailed response is on the webpage for the application).
I am still working with the agent to see if any of these matters can be resolved and therefore have not yet come to a conclusion what the officer recommendation for this application will be.
I will keep you up to date on progress.
Principal Planning Officer, Development Management, Shropshire Council