PLANNERS have refused an application by the retail giant Next to open a large out of town shop on the Spring Valley industrial estate.
The retailer applied to sell 75 per cent household goods from the site and 25 per cent children’s clothing from the unit adjacent to the new Pets at Home outlet.
But planners said the proposal was out of line with planning policy, which restricts out of town sales to bulky items that could not practically be sold from a town centre location.
It was originally expected the motor spares and accessories chain Halfords would occupy the unit.
Next had planned to sell items such as furniture, household goods and decorating items as well as clothes from Unit 1 on the estate. The retailer had applied for a Certificate of Lawfulness to determine precisely what could be sold from the unit. Next said by selling three quarters household items and only one quarter clothing they were in accordance with guidelines because they were ‘primarily’ selling bulky goods.
A statement from the Department of Infrastructure, which is responsible for planning, said: ‘The application for a Certificate of Lawfulness (PA 11/01594/LAW) was unsuccessful because many of the goods, in particular, the children’s wear, were not considered to be bulky.
‘Government policy supports retail sale of bulky goods in out of town locations, but seeks to maintain the sale of clothing and other types of comparison goods within existing town centres so as to protect their vitality and viability.’
Director of planning and building control Michael Gallagher said: ‘Although as planners we are keen to support economic growth, it is important that this is in a way that does not undermine retailing in Douglas and other town centres. This proposal did not comply with the conditions of the existing planning permission for the site which was granted after a planning appeal in 2010.’
A planning application relating to the same unit by Isle of Man Development Company and the Dixons, Currys and PC World group is currently under consideration. The application if approved would allow the group to increase the sales area with a mezzanine floor.
Douglas Council leader David Christian, who is chairman of the council’s policy and resources committee last week told the Isle of Man Examiner such a development would provide more competition, but could also be a death knell to existing island traders, which did not enjoy the same bulk buying power as big organisations. Ultimately this could result in less consumer choice not more.
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