Planning Permission for Cross Hands Retail Park

Planning permission has today been granted for the construction and operation of a retail park at Cross Hands West. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee approved plans by Conygar Cross Hands Ltd for convenience and comparison retail development including a food store, variety store, smaller units, a family pub and restaurant, and a drive through coffee shop. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Conygar’s plans are for where Sainsbury’s had previously planned to build a supermarket. Permission for a supermarket and petrol station already exists. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The site is designated as a strategic redevelopment site in the Local Development Plan which identifies sites around the county which are earmarked for strategic regeneration purposes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme is one of a number of applications or pending applications for retail development in Cross Hands. There are planning applications pending at Leekes and the Co-op, an existing planning permission for a third scheme at the old Farmers Co-operative site within the business park and a pending planning application for development in Ammanford in the Ammanford Cross Hands Growth Area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An officers’ report said that the application had been carefully assessed on its own merits and in light of the other pending applications in terms of retail need, impact and the locations of the proposals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The planning committee heard from an agent for Leekes objecting to the scheme and an agent for Conygar supporting it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The planning committee voted to approve the scheme with 14 votes in favour, one against and two abstentions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​