Aldi and Argos ruling at retail park

Retail giants Aldi and Argos can move onto a Walsall retail park despite council chiefs attempts to block them, it was revealed today.

A planning inspector has ruled the big name stores can open on the Bescot Retail Park in Bescot Crescent, after a four-day public inquiry.

Bosses at ROM Capital, who own the park, launched an appeal after Walsall Council failed to grant planning permission. The hearing was in January and after almost two months of consideration it was announced today that approval must be allowed.

Officials at Walsall Council voiced concerns that such plans would have a negative impact on the town centre – with the borough already well-served by such stores.

In allowing the appeal and granting planning permission inspector Karen Ridge said: "The proposal would be located in an accessible location and would provide benefits in so far as it would aid competition and provide genuine consumer choice in a socially deprived area. There would be no harmful effect on the vitality and viability of nearby local centres.

In relation to the Argos Extra store she added: "The proposal would be in an accessible location and would provide some limited benefits in terms of the prospect of jobs being created more quickly in a deprived area.

"I do not consider that the proposal together with recent and planned developments would have any materially harmful impact on comparison goods retailing in other centres."

The park, one of the more popular out-of-town shopping destinations in the borough, has stores including Carpet Right, Matalan, Farmfoods and a drive-through McDonalds.

ROM Capital, put in an application in December 2008 to remove restrictions on what can be sold at the park.

But the council failed to make a decision leading to claims they were holding up investment. The authority said they were disappointed with the decision and were trying to protect people who work, trade and shop in the town centre. But the decision has been welcomed by site owners. ROM Capital chief executive Daren Burney said they would be looking to push ahead with revitalising the park. We are absolutely delighted to be successful and it is a big boost for the retail park," he said. "We are now looking to proceed with the consent and refurbish the park. It is good for the community and leads to employment."

Bosses at Walsall Council have defended their actions.

David Elsworthy, head of planning, said: "We defended this appeal on the grounds of the potential impact we feel these developments could have on Walsall town centre.

"There is only so much expenditure available to spend in the area and we felt it was only right to protect the possible implications for the people who trade, work and shop in the town centre."