Concern over 'alternative town centre' shop plans

13 hours ago

Anttoni James NumminenLocal Democracy Reporting Service

A councillor has expressed concern about the retail park's impact on Scarborough town centre

BBC A street in Scarborough town centre, with the town hall and a bus visible — A councillor has expressed concern about the retail park's impact on Scarborough town centre

A major new retail destination could be built in a seaside town, with a supermarket, cafes, petrol station and a tanning salon included in the plans.

Plans to construct shops, pharmacies, and restaurants at Filey Road in Scarborough have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by Cliff Court Developments Ltd.

The scheme would see the extension of the town's current park and ride facility, the creation of two new roundabouts, and the construction of an internal access road.

No date has been set yet for the council to decide on the plans, which are open to representations by members of the public.

If approved units would be used for shops, cafés, medical services, a tanning shop, and a food takeaway

Lichfields The image is an illustrative map showing a proposed retail park and surrounding development. Outlined in red, the site includes a large supermarket building, multiple smaller retail units arranged in blocks, car parking areas, internal access roads, and landscaped green spaces with trees. A roundabout and connecting road network are shown at one end of the site, linking it to nearby residential streets, which are depicted in light grey. The plan is drawn to scale with grid lines and annotations. — If approved units would be used for shops, cafés, medical services, a tanning shop, and a food takeaway

The scheme would include a range of potential businesses, with "strong interest" already shown by potential occupiers, according to Lichfields, the agent for the application.

However, concerns about the development have been raised by Scarborough Town Council.

At a recent town council meeting councillor William Stuart said out-of-town developments could create "damaging effects on the footfall and viability of our town centre".

Stuart said: "This site, initially suggested for a hotel and drive-through food development, has now evolved into an alternative town centre. What worries me further is the developer's vagueness about the project's true scope."

He added: "As it stands, the proposal could pave the way for a full out-of-town retail park, with little regard for the long-term impact on our town centre."

However, the developer's plans stated the site's location, next to the existing park and ride facility, presented "a unique opportunity to deliver a mixed-use commercial and retail development, intrinsically linked to sustainable travel patterns".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service the plans also stated: "The park and ride is served by the 165 bus service, which provides access to Scarborough town centre and runs every 20 minutes, seven days a week, between April and November."

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