Douglas Council objects to a ‘Food Warehouse by Iceland’ planning application

The Harris Partnership

Local authority says social benefits of store don’t outweigh planning objectives

Douglas Council has lodged an objection to a planning application for a ‘Food Warehouse by Iceland’ supermarket in Spring Valley Trading Estate. 

In its minutes, the Environmental Services Committee were told the land is zoned for ‘industrial’ use rather than retail and under business policy five of the strategic plan this wouldn’t be permitted unless there’s an ‘exceptional circumstance’. 

The application submitted by the Isle of Man Development Company is looking for full approval to develop a 1,247 square metre retail warehouse with 72 parking spaces.  

It added it ‘acknowledged’ the potential economic and social benefits of the store, but these do not outweigh the ‘significant conflict’ with core planning policy objectives.

The council wrote in its objection that under the policy, the project could only be approved if sales wouldn’t detract from the ‘vitality and viability’ of town centres. 

You can read more about the council’s objection here.