Wareham Lidl store narrowly APPROVED by Dorset Council
The branch at Sandford garnered hundreds of comments - for and against
Controversial plans Lidl store at Sandford in Wareham have been approved - on the casting vote of the chairman, Cllr David Tooke, following a 5-5 outcome.
The decision came after more than two hours of debate at a Dorset Council area planning committee today (Wednesday 6th November).
It heard that the new store could save local shoppers 1.5 million miles a year with benefits to the environment.
Some questioned the claims, arguing that the new store would attract more traffic to the Purbecks and cause harm to the Green Belt and a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Lidl claimed the vast majority of 4,000 local people it had consulted supported their application.
The site is close to the Sandford pub, off the A351 and adjacent to the Sibley Pottery roundabout which leads to the B3075 Morden Road.
The 1.25 hectare site has attracted 700 public comments to the council – mainly supporters, although most local councillors object to the new store.
Many were concerned about the likely impact on the town centre and on adjacent sites of special scientific interest, including Sandford Heath and Morden Bog.
Supporters say the store would offer the area a wider choice of goods and bring new jobs as well as reduce the need to travel into Poole, Wareham or Swanage.
The store was first proposed in July 2022 with Lidl’s agents challenging all of the claims made against the development.
The proposal for the 2,270 square metre store includes 112 car parking spaces with Lidl claiming it will employ 35 part time and 5 full time staff.
Dorset Council officers told the eastern area planning committee, meeting in Wimborne, that councillors should reject the Lidl proposal because of the damage to the Green Belt.
Lidl’s regional head of property, James Mitchell, told the meeting that if the scheme were refused the company would have no option but to appeal.
He said changes were due shortly to the National Planning Policy Framework which was likely to downgrade the site from green to grey belt, making the proposals more likely.
He suggested deferring until January, rather than rejecting the scheme, if the committee felt it was likely to object to the plans.
Former council leader Cllr Spencer Flower proposed accepting the plans – pointing out there had been no objections from Natural England, Highways or the Dorset Wildlife Trust.
He said he could only conclude there was a limited impact on the Green Belt and a benefit in reducing the number of car trips.
“I think there is a net benefit here for people who have to go out of the area to shop,” he said.
Resident David Stewart was one of several who spoke in favour of the Lidl store claiming there was overwhelming support for it, with the area only having limited shopping choices both in Swanage and Wareham, where parking was expensive and limited.
He said his own calculations were that 55% of Purbeck residents travelled outside the area for this main shop, mostly to Poole, resulting in 16,000 car trips.
“To me it’s a win-win. Sandford will end up with less traffic in both directions” he said, adding that the area would also benefit from forty new jobs.
Wareham Cllr Beryl Ezzard said she supported the planning officer recommendation to refuse, saying it was in the wrong place on a Green Belt site, which would spoil Sandford and increase the traffic flow.
She said while there was massive support locally for the store the research showed that the extra shopping space was not needed and would also, potentially, harm wildlife and the ‘feel’ of openness at Sandford.
“It will be a blot on the landscape of Sandford, on this Green Belt site and will set a precedent to jeopardise other Green Belt sites,” she said.
A report to councillors said that if the committee agreed the proposal it will have to be referred to the Secretary of State because the development is in excess of the 1,000 square metre limit for development within a Green Belt.