PLANS for a huge retail park in Brunsdon's Yard, Stonehouse, have been shot down by Stroud District Council due to the impact it feels the development could have on a ‘frail’ Merrywalks.

The proposals from PAG Ventures, Property Alliance Group and Norman Marshall would have seen a 256-space car park, M&S Foodhall, a Pets at Home and two large ‘bulky/furniture’ stores built on the brownfield site opposite Ryford Industrial Estate.

However, the plans, which were initially submitted in April 2015 and included an ALDI, were rejected on Tuesday by SDC.

In its decision, SDC said: “The proposed development would have a significant adverse impact on the deliverability of private retail investment at Merrywalks in Stroud town centre, which has an identified frailty and any loss of much needed investment would threaten its ability to maintain the extent of its trading role.

“The proposal together with foodstore permission at Avocet and potentially on the south side of Stroud would also have a significant accumulative impact on Stroud, Stonehouse and Nailsworth by diverting the footfall away from the town centres.

“The proposal would harm outward views from the AONB.

“It cannot be adequately landscaped from such an elevated position and the colours, lighting, surfaces, textures and uniform arrangement of cars would create a harsh urban appearance.”

SDC also decry the loss of vital B class employment space in favour of retail usages on the 10.55-acre site, despite a pledge from the developers that the proposal would generate 127 full-time jobs.

The plans also included the demolition of the site’s remaining buildings, 12 disabled car parking spaces, eight parent and child spaces and 30 short-stay bike spaces.

In their application the developers’ agents How Planning state: “The significant investment proposed by Property Alliance Group would provide the opportunity to radically improve the appearance of a prominent and important site.

“It will deliver an appropriately sized retail development which would bring the site back into use and secure new jobs and economic growth.

“The proposals represent a high quality development which promotes a design which is sympathetic and considerate to its location yet meets the needs of modern retailers and has been the result of detailed discussions with the Local Planning Authority.

“The M&S Foodhall will provide a qualitatively different offer from existing convenience goods retail in Stonehouse.

“As such, the development is likely to divert trade from facilities offering a similar qualitative offer from elsewhere within the study area.

“The proposed development will allow the clawback of this expenditure and the provision of retail jobs locally.

“There is a clear deficiency in shopping provision in Stonehouse and this development will substantially redress this deficiency.”

The developers stated that the proposal could have a dramatic impact on nearby towns, drawing significant amounts of trade from Stroud, Stonehouse, Nailsworth, Wotton and Dursley.

These amount to a trade loss of 4.5 per cent from Stroud, 5.7 per cent from Stonehouse, 5.6 per cent from Nailsworth, 2.1 per cent from Wotton and 4.7 per cent from Dursley which equate to losses of £5.56 million.

To view the plans in full visit SDC’s planning website and search for application S.15/2590/OUT.