Green plea over Shipley superstore plans (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Green plea over Shipley superstore plans

7:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in News By Julie Tickner, T&A Reporter

A new supermarket proposed for Shipley should be carbon-neutral, according to a local councillor.

Bradford Council has received an outline planning application to demolish buildings at Airedale Mills, in Salts Mill Road, and build a superstore.

Developers are in talks with the main supermarkets who “are all very interested” in taking on the site.

Councillor Kevin Warnes (Green, Shipley) said the company had been very transparent about its ideas and acted on feedback from a public meeting last month. But he said Green councillors were concerned about the impact of a superstore on town traders.

“We have huge reservations about having another supermarket located near Shipley town centre,” he said.

“We don’t like the idea of having huge stores drawing trade from smaller local stores which are more conveniently located for people to get to without using their car.”

However, local trader Linda Mercan said she thought a new store would add to the variety of the bustling town which had lots to offer.

“Overall it should bring more people into Shipley which has always been a busy market town which attracts people from a large area,” she said.

The store plans, submitted by Commercial Development Projects, include 373 car parking spaces, 22 disabled spaces and 56 spaces for bikes.

A ground floor and lower-ground floor would create a floor area of 7,128 square metres.

A design statement by the Harris Partnership, acting for the developer, said the car park would be screened from view, materials would be used in keeping with the local area and green technologies are being considered.

Coun Warnes said he accepted that such development was commonplace.

“We know it’s going to be very difficult for the Council, because of national planning guidelines, to resist approving one more supermarket in Shipley,” he said. “The evidence shows there’s lots of demand for retail goods and enough there to retain a second supermarket. If a supermarket is going to go ahead, what we want is for it to be carbon-neutral.

“Let’s make it a building which makes Shipley an example to the rest of the country.”

Fellow ward councillor Hawarun Hussain (Green) said her support would partly depend on which supermarket was involved. People have until February 7 to comment.