PLANS for a new Co-op store to be built on an Argyll and Bute industrial estate have been given the go-ahead by council officers.
APC Group Ltd applied to Argyll and Bute Council for planning permission at the site, saying it would supplement the Co-op’s existing premises in the area.
It said that the current store in Main Street, Tobermory was “not sufficiently large” to serve the catchment population as well as the Co-op would like, and plans have now been approved for the Baliscate Industrial Estate.
No representations, expressing objection or support, were received from the public by the council during the planning process, and the application has now been approved.
A council official said in a handling report: “The existing Co-op store at Main Street in Tobermory extends to approximately 296 square metres with a sales area of 250 square metres and back of house/storage area of 46 square metres.
“The retail statement submitted with this application states that the scale, nature and characteristics of the existing Co-op no longer best serve customers and the store suffers from a variety of constraints, compromising the satisfaction of customers and impacting on the efficient operation of the store.
“The operational deficiencies could not be resolved through the reorganisation of the existing store’s internal layout or through redevelopment or extension of the existing site, due to the constrained nature of the site within a multi-level building and in a densely developed area.
“The proposed development would serve the population of Tobermory as well as residents across the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Iona.
“The application site is located approximately 700 metres from the western edge of the Tobermory town centre, however given the strong pedestrian connections between the application site and the town centre, the application site is considered to be well placed in terms of its relationship with the town centre.
“Given the characteristics of Mull, shoppers would need to travel to the mainland to access a store equivalent to the one that is proposed within this application.
“The submitted retail statement concludes from this that the proposed development would enhance the likelihood of linked trips being carried out by customers, resulting in increased expenditure being retained on the island, with associated benefits for town centre trade and employment.”
The officer added: “In terms of convenience retail representation, there are only two convenience retail stores in Tobermory town centre. These small stores provide for the day-to-day convenience needs of the catchment population.
“The statement sets out that while it is anticipated that there would be some trade draw from the existing Co-op to the proposed store, the existing and proposed stores would serve distinct but complementary roles.
“The statement sets out the findings that Tobermory town centre accommodates a balanced composition of town centre uses which complement one another, with the centre also benefitting from a low vacancy rate.
“It is not anticipated that the development proposed by this application would give rise to any significant impacts on Tobermory town centre, particularly as the proposed development would not directly compete with any of the existing operators.
“Furthermore, the proposed development is likely to lead to a net increase in linked trips to Tobermory, with consequent associated benefits for town centre trade.”
