A major redevelopment of shopping at the Hollies, Midsomer Norton plus a new store on South Road Car Park of around 45,000 square feet could meet the town's food retailing needs for years to come, Lyall Kennedy of Hartnell Taylor and Cook, which manages The Hollies on behalf of Greater Manchester Council Pension Fund, told The Journal. The site, which has difficult levels, could be redeveloped either in seven years time at the end of the current lease or earlier, by negotiation, to provide Sainsbury's with a much larger in-town store (around 40,000 sq. ft, currently 28,000 sq. ft gross). The two sites combined would significantly increase the food offer available to local shoppers. Their proximity to the town centre would be a boost to High Street traders.
Sainsbury's, however, are seeking a planning permission at Westfield for a store of 94,000 sq. ft with 500 car parking spaces and a petrol filling station on land zoned by B&NES planners for employment/factories warehousing. If Sainsbury's was to win planning permission, either from B&NES, which would be contrary to their own plans, or on appeal, it is unlikely the company would be interested in discussing a bigger store in Midsomer Norton.
"There are seven years left on the Sainsbury's lease and we would hope to engage with Sainsbury's before the end of the lease to redevelop and expand the site. That obviously won't happen until the current planning application has been decided," explained Mr Kennedy.
Meanwhile, a planning application is believed to be imminent for another giant supermarket near Stones Cross, Midsomer Norton. Clearly, the area can't support all these proposals.
B&NES planners have indicated they want to make the decision on the Westfield site in April.
Letters and emails of support or objection need to be made to B&NES planners by Monday, 11th February. The planning application reference number is 12/05148/FUL.