Consolidated Property Group (CPG) has submitted a second planning application to Exeter City Council, after the initial plans for a retail development were rejected last December.
The £45 million Moor Exchange proposal has been “tweaked” to reduce the number of units available for fashion retailers. Should this proposal also be refused, CPG will press ahead with the appeal against the earlier decision, which is due to be heard in December of this year.
One of the major arguments the developers will bring to the table is that the development has already gained the approval of a number of businesses on Exeter Business Park and nearby Sowton Industrial Estate, not to mention the many local residents which have expressed their support.
In addition, CPG argues that the failure of the council to secure the future of proposed small retail schemes in Hill Barton and Pilton mean that the retail offering for local consumers simply does not meet the needs of the community.
“It was disappointing that the Council’s Officers took a negative view on the original application from the outset,” CPG managing director Martin Ridgway told the Express & Echo.
“They paid very little attention to the overwhelming importance of this development to both local residents and the vast number of businesses to the east of Exeter who appreciate the benefits of this local shopping centre to their staff.
“It is important to stress that a CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) payment of £1.4 million will be paid to the City Council if this development goes ahead, a very significant contribution to the council’s budgets to further improve the city’s infrastructure.”
Should the new plans for the Moor Exchange centre gain approval, work will begin imminently upon the site which will eventually be home to a convenience store, two drive-thru units, a restaurant, two anchor stores and ten small to medium sized retail units.
The developers have already received a degree of interest from potential occupiers including chains such as Costa, Pizza Express, Carphone Warehouse, Frankie & Benny’s and Lloyd’s Pharmacy.
Mr Ridgway insists that the scheme would have no negative impact on the nearby city centre, and would in fact help to keep spending in the local area.
He says; “It would have no impact on the city centre and planning officers have not come up with any evidence to contradict our assessment on that
“People working in this area can’t shop during the day and they go home at night without going into the city centre to shop – this scheme is mainly for the business community and local residents.”
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