Plan for new ‘retail parade’ next to Rossington Lidl is approved by councillors

A plan for a ‘retail parade’ adjacent to a new Doncaster supermarket has been approved which could include retail shops, a gym, a fast-food outlet, restaurants and a pub.
Lidl, West End Lane, Rossington. Picture: Marie Caley/Doncaster Free PressLidl, West End Lane, Rossington. Picture: Marie Caley/Doncaster Free Press
Lidl, West End Lane, Rossington. Picture: Marie Caley/Doncaster Free Press

Lidl applied permission to erect a mixture of four units with a 39-space car park off Heathfield Crescent in Rossington.

But planning officers have said the plot of land lies on the Green Belt will have to be referred to the Government’s National Planning Casework Unit.

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Documents show the commercial use proposal on the Green Belt ‘would normally be deemed to be inappropriate’.

But officers said subsequent planning permissions and the allocation of Rossington as a ‘Potential Growth Town’ within the council’s ‘Core Strategy' are ‘strong material considerations’.

The application is just one part of a huge regeneration project around the former site of Rossington Colliery which includes 1,200 homes, a 60 bed hotel, a petrol station and a fast-food restaurant with drive-thru.

A Lidl store, which opened in January, is situated next to the site.

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Jake McCloud, on behalf of the applicant, said the variety of use for the spaces would ‘minimise’ the chance of units remaining empty for a long period of time.

Coun Eva Hughes raised concerns around the fast-food takeaway option and asked if the applicant could remove it.

Planning case officer Mark Sewell is recommended councillors on the planning committee approve the application.

He said: “On the basis of the above, the application is accordingly recommended for approval.

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“Whilst the application site is located within allocated Green Belt, the main issues and principle of development have already been agreed under the original mixed use outline consent for the colliery site, and the additional uses proposed within the commercial area as part of this application are considered to be small scale and acceptable.

“Given that the application site is located within the Green Belt, and due to the overall floorspace proposed, the application will have to be referred to the National Planning Casework Unit to determine whether the Secretary of State requires it to be called in.”

Councillors voted eight to one in favour of the application. Mexborough First councillor Andy Pickering voted against.