New supermarket bids to remove cycle plans

Changes could be made to plans for a new supermarket on an out-of-town development.

Morrisons gained planning permission for a new store in Oswestry in December on the Old Smithfield site, but work is yet to begin.

Now the grocery giant has applied to Shropshire Council to drop plans for a toucan crossing and cycle facilities at the site.

The crossing and cycle plans were included as a condition of planning permission being granted.

The plans were lodged with the council this week and will be decided on in the coming weeks.

The new store will feature a petrol station, a car wash and ATM facilities.

Construction work can’t begin until drainage work associated with the former livestock site is completed.

The Smithfield site, on Shrewsbury Road, has sat almost untouched since 2015, after previous plans for a Morrisons store and leisure complex fell through.

The development will create around 60 new full and part time jobs, on top of the 100 staff already employed in the Station Road store in the town.

If permission is granted for the new supermarket, staff from the current town centre store would move to the new site on Shrewsbury Road.

The first phase of the Smithfield project saw the livestock market moved to a neighbouring site in 2015, with the second phase of the project being a £45 million leisure complex.

The plans included a McDonald’s, a Frankie and Benny’s restaurant and a cinema, however when Cineworld pulled out, the plans collapsed and the land has laid untouched every since.

The condition for the facilities said: “Prior to any development on site details will be submitted to the local planning authority and approved in writing with regards to a toucan crossing along with cycle facilities on the north side of the Shrewsbury Road which will link with College Road.

“Works will include provision for footway/cycleway widening of the existing footway on the north side of Shrewsbury Road from the proposed crossing to the Sustainable Urban Extension area. Development will be carried out as approved prior to first use of the site.

“Reason: In order to ensure sustainable access links between the site and the
surrounding area.”