Discount supermarket set for approval

Plans to build a new discount supermarket on a Carmarthenshire retail park are set to get the green light from councillors (9 February 2017).Leekes, via agent RPS Planning & Development, lodged plans in 2015 for the car park of its existing store in Cross Hands.Full planning permission is being sought for the development of a 28,000 sq ft retail store. Although the application has been made by Leekes, the unit is expected to be occupied by a Lidl supermarket. A 110-space car park is included, together with a new access road.The original proposals included a smaller store together with seven units suitable for retail or food use. However, concerns over past mining activity meant the terrace was removed from the plans.The site is close to a Co-op supermarket which has recently been granted consent for a new foodstore as well as eight new commercial units, with a total size of about 65,000 sq ft.Conygar has also recently started work on a 100,000 sq ft retail development land to the north west of the application site. This scheme will feature a 23,000 sq ft discount supermarket, and a terrace of five retail units, and is expected to create about 260 jobs.Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee will vote on the plans on 9 February 2017 and a report to be considered at the meeting is recommending approval.