Changes to Fosse Park approved

Changes to Fosse Park have been approved to create additional new units – despite some controversy.

Blaby District Council’s planning committee discussed an application to increase the number of units in Fosse Park West – developed in 2017 on the former Everards Brewery site – from eight to nine, splitting one of the larger units into two smaller shops measuring 465 sq m and 605 sq m.

Introducing the plans to Blaby District Council’s (BDC) planning committee, officers said the proposal followed a similar application by applicant Wexford Retail LP, on behalf of Fosse Park, which was approved last year, and saw the number of shops in the area increase from seven to eight.

The current unit put forward to be divided into two had been empty since Fosse Park West was built, officers added, despite being marketed for the last eight years.

Plans note no external alterations, with the works to divide the shops reducing the floor space slightly. The division into two units will allow it to be occupied by two separate retailers, and will create around 42 jobs in a mixture of full and part-time roles, the application states.

Objections were received from Highcross Leicester and Leicester City Council, with concerns including weakening of planning controls and conditions, and potential harm to Leicester city centre.

Officers said whilst they acknowledged the concerns raised, “the application must be assessed on its own merits”, adding the proposal was a “relatively modest” application, which did not create additional floor space.

During the assessment, and taking into account Highcross’ and Leicester City Council’s concerns, documents note Wexford Retail LP undertook a “sequential test” – which favours city centre and other locations over Fosse Park – as part of the application, looking at suitable sites in terms of the floor space of the existing unit and the two proposed units.

The test concluded that there would be no suitable and available sites for the development in “higher order” centres.

Officers noted that Wexford Retail LP also carried out an “impact test” to see if the smaller units would have a negative impact including on Leicester city centre. The assessment concluded the effect would be minimal.

Craig Blatchford, speaking on behalf of Wexford Retail LP, noted the two sites approved last year were progressing, with one unit being fitted out for Rituals and due to open shortly and the other unit chosen by a national retailer for their first store in the area.

Regarding the latest units,  he added: “Our clients now have interest from two retailers based on a subdivided unit. There will be no increase in floor space, no change of use, or external physical works, merely the insertion of an internal wall.”

Cosby and South Whetstone ward councillor Les Phillimore (Con) said: “I think we need to deal with some realities of life here. It’s very difficult to fight against market demand, consumer behaviour, commercial reality.

“It’s a while since I’ve been into the city centre, but I’m fairly sure there’s plenty of vacant retail space, and if subdividing this into two is going to compromise the viability and vitality of the city centre, I suggest the city’s got a lot more it can think about than this, so I’m more than happy to support the officer’s recommendation.”

BDC planning committee chair Lee Breckon (Con) added: “I think the harm to Leicester city, that’s really in the hands of the objecting council, and I think obviously… the public have a choice of shopping.

“You can go to the city or you can go to the out of town Fosse Park. It sits in Blaby District. I think certainly it’s a very good asset to have, so I’m more than happy to recommend the officer’s proposal, which is to approve.”

The application was approved as per the recommendation, alongside 15 conditions, including the main terrace limited to nine shops and a minimum of 881 car parking spaces to be retained.