A new expansion to Springfields Shopping Outlet has been passed by councillors this evening (Wednesday, October 7).
South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee voted through the proposal for 18 new units on the site of the National Farmer’s Union building by 13 votes to 2.
The meeting heard that the principle for the development had been included as part of the South Lincolnshire Local Plan after an assessment that such a facility was needed in the area.
The Section 106 agreement offered as part of the application however was below but what was outlined in the local plan, but planning officers told councillors that an independent assessment had ruled the offer of £200,000 towards Spalding town centre improvements, the creation of a Springfields media-coordinator and advertisement at the centre was sufficient.
Speaking on behalf of developer Triton Property Fund, agent Jeremy Williams of ID Planning told the meeting the development would “attract premium retailers to complement the town centre offer”.
He also referenced the closure of Hills Department Store announced earlier today and citing Springfields as a reason for its closure.
“The proposal will also deliver measures to promote the attractiveness of Spalding town centre,” he said. “The funding contributions has been subject to detailed appraisal and found to be appropriate by the applicant and the council.
“We have noted today in the press the announcement that Hills Department Store is to close.
“Struggles in the department store sector are well documented with Debeneham’s, John Lewis and House of Fraser all experiencing serve difficulties.
“The extension of Springfields will allow 350 new opportunities to be created which would add to the 650 already jobs Springfields provides.
“Spring is one of the major employers of the town with 90 per living within 50 miles of the centre. It will also expand the local supply chain.
“With over 2.5million visitors a year, Springfields is the premium tourist attraction in the region and can bring benefits to the rest of the town.
“Spring constantly striving to improve its offer not just from other retail destinations such as the scheme at Grantham coming forward but also from internet shopping.
“The extension will enable Springfields to build on its success in a difficult economic climate as an important tourist destination drawing people to Spalding that will benefit the whole town.”
Chair of the Planning Committee, Coun James Avery said: “Objection has been minimal so in terms of the development per se I see no issue with the principle.
“We can see clearly this will be a significant development in a more prominent site on the edge of Spalding, to Springfields and hopefully to Spalding as a whole.
“We need to be mindful that such expansion must have a positive impact on Spalding town centre.
“One doesn’t have to look very far to see that retailers in town centres are finding it difficult, but we have what officers believe to be a reasonable and sensible offer in S106 agreements and media opportunities to encourage shoppers to visit Spalding itself.
“It’s been reviewed and thought to be reasonable, possibly even generous given the current economic climate.
“We’re presented with an opportunity to create 350 new jobs, improve the town centre and the links to the town centre.”
Coun Chris Brewis though told the meeting: “Though talking about the creation of 360 possible jobs, one wonders how many other jobs in the area would be lost.”
Two members of the public objected to the proposal while councillors raised concerns about the effect of more traffic on the A16 McDonald’s roundabout, though Lincolnshire County Council’s Highways department had not raised any objections to the proposal.
A host of measures were also discussed about the potential for linking Spalding town centre and Springfields, including with a shuttle service, though Coun Roger Gambba-Jones told the meeting that had been discussed when Springfields first opened and a figure of around £450,000 had been measured.
Coun Andrew Woolf, who alongside Coun Brewis voted against the proposal, said: “When you look at 18 unites it strikes me that’s 18 that won’t appear in the ‘high street’ of Spalding and that lays heavy with me.
“When Springfields comes to greater Spalding its had its rewards, but as we’ve seen, the town centre is dying and allowing this to be passed will further make it die.
“Online shopping has made an impact on every high street but if it is making an impact why is this in front of us?
“The protection of our town centre if far more important.”
But Coun Lawton said: “I think Springfields is a different offer. It’s safe it’s clean, you can take your children and they can run all over the place.
“It’s completely different to the high street which needs a different look to what high streets need now.
“I’m really sad to see the closure of Hills. I’ve shopped there for 40 years and over those 40 years numerous shops have closed.
“In the past there have been retailers coming forward to fill that breach. That’s not the case now it’s societal changes and there’s very little we can do about that.”
“I welcome any projects which support what I call bricks and mortar shopping, shopping with a human element as opposed to wretched online shopping, which is efficient and bloodless in my view.
“I would say to people if you pick your river, pick the Welland and not the Amazon.”
