Heron Foods store plans rejected for third time as government officials brand plan 'unacceptable'

'Unacceptable' plans for a new bargain food store to be set up in a Nottinghamshire village have been turned down for a third time. Supermarket Heron Foods has been denied permission once again for a new store it had planned to build off Kirklington Road, Rainworth.

The business wanted to build a small new shop on part of the car park of the former Robin Hood Hotel, which is currently a Tesco Express. Initially the project was recommended for approval by Newark and Sherwood District Council's planning officers, but the authority's planning committee rejected the plans twice.

Councillors feared there were insufficient car parking spaces and worried the store would create increased demand for on-street parking. The Government's Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning appeals, has now backed the local council's decision, with an inspector stating the impact of the new supermarket would not be unacceptable.

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Inspector Kevin Savage acknowledged there would be economic benefits, especially from the construction jobs created and the retail roles provided by the finished shop. A previous planning committee heard residents did not want another store, but Mr Savage said: "Whilst I have noted concerns raised in respect of whether another retail store is needed or wanted by local residents, there is no policy put to me that either resists the development in principle or requires evidence of need to be demonstrated."

The prospective Heron Foods would have been served by a 12-space car park with additional parking provision for disabled vehicles adjacent to the store. Separate customer vehicular and pedestrian accesses would have been provided off Kirklington Road.

Despite these proposals, the Government's inspector said the project would cause "significant harm" to the area's highways and as a result was unsuitable. Mr Savage explained: "The main issue is whether the proposal would be acceptable with respect to highway and pedestrian safety, having regard to the proposed access, parking and servicing arrangements for the retail unit.

"Development should only be prevented or refused on highway grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, which I have found would occur in this case." The appeal, which was made by K Nijjar, was dismissed.