Surprise Refusal Of Sainsbury's Application For Ashton Gate

Sainsbury’s planning application for Ashton Gate was refused last night in a surprise decision by the Development Control (South and East) committee.

Council planning officials had recommended the superstore’s outline application for approval in their report, which was published last week.

The committee meeting kicked off at 6pm yesterday evening with supporters for and against the application putting their views across as best they could in the two minutes allotted to them. The meeting lasted four hours.

Several residents attended to speak against the proposals. Supported by Southville Councillor Tess Green, residents and local traders raised concerns about increased traffic levels, air and noise pollution and the dangers for children wanting to get to the park and to school, all to a chorus of loud cheers.

However, there was strong support for Sainsbury’s proposals from other residents and even local traders. One local trader said that she and many other traders she had spoken to from both North Street and East Street were not worried about the prospect of a Sainsbury’s store, and that some of them would welcome it.

As well as highlighting the proposed store’s green credentials, a regional planner for Sainsbury’s emphasised that hundreds of jobs would be created in the area and stressed that Sainsbury’s staff were offered the opportunity to study NVQs and do apprenticeships.

He was supported in this by a spokesman for Bristol City FC, who said that on the strength of the number of jobs that would be created, it was a “no-brainer” that Sainsbury’s plans should get the go-ahead.

George Ferguson briefly summarised his preferred scheme for the Ashton Gate site, which would include 300 family homes and a mix of leisure, community and work spaces.

A representative for Ashton Vale Heritage Group asked that Sainsbury’s proposals be viewed along with the others proposed for the area and argued that committee members should consider the effect that years of building and development work will have on residents there. 

Representatives from the Bristol Civic Society and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England also spoke at the meeting.  The Green Capital Momentum Group argued that the application worked against Bristol’s Green Capital objectives.

Arguments against Sainsbury’s proposal on grounds of sustainability were raised repeatedly and, in the end, it was on those grounds that the application was refused, with committee members voicing concerns that the ‘out-of-town’ location would mean that people would be dependent on their cars to shop at the store.

They turned the plan down by four votes to two, with two abstentions.

They had earlier agreed the proposed application for 145 homes and employment use at the Winterstoke Road site if the store were to be relocated to Ashton Gate.

Local councillor Mark Bradshaw (Labour, Bedminster) commented after the meeting that he was deeply disappointed in the outcome, which would mean the loss of over 700 potential jobs for the Bedminster area and puts plans for the arena and Bristol City’s new stadium at risk.

Jamie Baker, Sainsbury’s Head of Property Development South, said: “Both Sainsbury’s and Bristol City Football Club are naturally disappointed at the committee’s decision, particularly as it was recommended for approval by the Planning Officer.  

“Sainsbury’s has consulted extensively with a whole range of individuals, groups and organisations in the community since the beginning of the year and we had made a significant number of changes to the planning application as a result of what we heard. 

“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the consultation process and gave us their views.

“We will now be reviewing the options open to us with Bristol City Football Club in terms of next steps.”

What do you think of the committee’s decision – are you pleased or disappointed?