Sainsbury’s have won their appeal to convert Caffyns Garage in Preston village to a Sainsbury’s Local.  The appeal was against the refusal of their second planning application for a Sainsbury’s Local which was unanimously refused planning permission – on 27 April 2011 – by the Planning Committee against the advice of Council officers, which was to grant permission.

The Council’s case officer had given the reasons why permission should be granted subject to conditions: the proposed change of use of the site would not harm the character or appearance of the Conservation Area, the amenities of local residents, the local shopping centres, or highway safety.

The applicants had supplied detailed evidence to confirm that the two retail units cannot be located within existing centres, and that the vitality and viability of these local shopping centres, including the adjacent parade, will not be unduly harmed.

Furthermore, the access, unloading and parking arrangements will not unduly pressurise local facilities, will not result in increased highway safety risk, and would not significantly harm the amenities of local residents. The proposal is considered to be in accordance with local development plan policies and national policy guidance.

The Preston & Old Patcham Society had lodged an objection to Sainsbury’s Local on the Caffyns garage site solely on traffic grounds. The Council’s case officer did not agree with us. 

Caffyns closed at the end of October 2008, and at the beginning of 2010 Sainsbury’s submitted a planning application for a Sainsbury’s Local within most of the existing structure. The report which went to the Planning Committee of 22 September 2010, with the recommendation that planning permission for Sainsbury’s Local on the Caffyns site in Preston Road be refused.

The Preston & Old Patcham Society previously expressed concern over the traffic arrangements for accessing, parking, loading and unloading on the site. We sought advice and were warned that these concerns still applied.