Andy Munns
ASDA’s application for their proposed store in Salisbury has been approved by a Strategic Planning Committee at Wiltshire Council today.
The plans include a new food store featuring a café, a drive-thru coffee shop unit and a petrol filling station.
The store would also have the capacity for an online grocery operation, with the capability to provide Click & Collect services and home delivery to customers in Salisbury.
It’s hoped the new store will bring over 200 new jobs to the area as well as easing some traffic from Southampton Road, giving shoppers an alternative supermarket option.
Cllr Ian McLennan, Wiltshire Council Councillor for Laverstock spoke in favour of the store, stating that he feels assured that many concerns have been overcome regarding ecology with some net gains.
Cllr Charles McGrath, Wiltshire Council Councillor for Milford, also praised the applicants for their engagement with the local councillors and community, as many concerns have been raised. He also added that the majority of correspondence he has received from the community in his parish has favoured the proposals.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the application, which is subject to a judicial review ordered by Tesco.
Tesco lodged a comment on the application citing three areas for further representation, they were:
- The Unacceptable Retail Trading Impact on the City Centre
- The Fundamental Prejudice to City Centre Regeneration of the Central Car Park Site
- The Existence of a Suitable City Alternative and thus Failure of the Sequential Test
In March 2023, Salisbury City Councillors reversed their previous stance to support the application after they heard that surveys of the proposed development site on London Road recorded 33 bird species. Eleven were “of high conservation concern”, and seven of these were breeding.
Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “At its meeting on Wednesday 17 April, the Strategic Planning Committee voted to approve the application for a new Asda store on land at Salisbury Retail Park, London Road, Salisbury, following a considered debate.
“In line with planning policy and law, the application was recommended to be approved by Planning Officers, subject to the conditions set out in the application report. The application secures a number of public benefits including enhanced biodiversity provision, open space, and improved pedestrian and cycle connectivity.”
