Asda site in St Martin's Quarter gets approval for Costa coffee shop and a bookmakers

5:36pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By James Connell

The bets are on - green light for bookies and coffee shop at Asda site in Worcester The bets are on - green light for bookies and coffee shop at Asda site in Worcester

A BOOKMAKERS and a coffee shop have been given the go ahead at a redeveloped shopping and leisure complex.

Worcester City Council’s planning committee has approved two separate ‘change of use’ applications for units at St Martin’s Quarter, Lowersmoor, site of the city’s Asda supermarket.

The units were both originally earmarked for retail (class A1) but planners approved change of use to ‘restaurants and cafes’ (A3) for a Costa coffee and ‘financial and professional services’ (A2) for a betting shop.

The coffee shop is already open so the application was 'retrospective' which is when permission is sought for something which has already been put into effect.

However, some councillors are concerned that not enough of the units are being used for their original purpose of ‘retail’, sparking debate at the meeting at Worcester Guildhall today.

Coun Paul Denham said: “I have concerns about the future of this whole development. We’re told in this report that the applicant is applying for change of use from A1 to A3 because they have marketed it for a year and have failed to find an A1 class tenant.”

He said the phrase ‘an eclectic mix of retail and restaurant development’ was used to describe the original plan. He said: “We seem to be very far from that vision. The retailer is clearly struggling to find occupiers for these units.”

Coun Denham said: “We could end up having a far high proportion of restaurants, coffee shops and betting shops and goodness knows what else than we originally imagined.”

But Alan Coleman, development services manager, said the planning committee had the power to control future applications for change of use to maintain the right balance and monitor the situation. He said: “There are still a number of units which are unoccupied which is a reflection of the current climate we’re in.”

Coun Robert Rowden said: “What we’re talking about is an application to put a coffee shop in an area that seems to be very suitable for a coffee shop, particularly as there’s an area for circulation of the general public in front of it. It’s a place where they’re coming and going and may well like to stop for a cup of coffee and watch the world go by. It just seems right. Where there are empty places, get them filled up. The more they’re filled up, the more vibrant that area becomes and the more successful it will be.”

Mr Coleman said: “Bookmakers, whether you agree or disagree with them, do have a very high footfall rate. In terms of vitality and viability, they can have a very positive effect in terms of attracting people to that area

Comments(15)

Nathan Barley says...
6:28pm Thu 21 Feb 13

I wonder what odds I'll get in the new bookies for all the other units staying empty for another 12 months?

Report this post »

Paul Oldroyd says...
6:37pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Umm - isn't this old news? Last time I looked the Costa shop was furnished and just about to open!

Report this post »

marshall_bravestarr says...
6:49pm Thu 21 Feb 13

The Costa is already open. And a bookies there is disastrous. What is happening to our City?

Report this post »

kevkirky says...
6:51pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Filling the units has to be the priority these days. They can start to pick and choose when the economy picks up. Carillon who own the site must of envisaged all of the units being full when they took on the project 3/4 years ago.

Report this post »

thesquirrel says...
7:17am Fri 22 Feb 13

Nooooooooooo. We want Starbucks not another Costa!

Report this post »

tracey63 says...
7:26am Fri 22 Feb 13

No news here then another Costa and yet another bookies how many can 1 small city take? What about a wilkinsons or other discount stores? We need some really good shops not high end retail shops, the city needs something to bring business's and shoppers here.

Report this post »

Arthur Blenkinsop says...
8:20am Fri 22 Feb 13

Great news! Just what Worcester needs - another coffee shop! Why not go the whole hog and have another couple of shoe shops and a hairdresser in there too?

Report this post »

georgecowleyfanclub says...
11:40am Fri 22 Feb 13

If only another charity shop would open. We don't have enough of them.

Report this post »

mr.meldrew says...
11:48am Fri 22 Feb 13

costa fortune more like...

Report this post »

More Tea Vicar says...
11:55am Fri 22 Feb 13

thesquirrel wrote:
Nooooooooooo. We want Starbucks not another Costa!
Good point.

I'm sure the WN has covered this story before anyway.

And many people remarked about Costa's. Can't measures be taken to allow more diversity? Local shops, or at least small local chains (Boston, Ginger Pig, Bolero) or even the likes of Starbucks would be a welcome addition.

I find it hard to believe the Council has no influence over this kind of decision.

Report this post »

CJH says...
12:39pm Fri 22 Feb 13

There are businesses moving in, they will employ local people. What's the problem. Isn't that better than empty units? They may not be what some people want, or think should be there, but it's better than nothing surely?

Report this post »

stu2010 says...
2:32pm Fri 22 Feb 13

We don't want more coffee shops. A new mobile phone shop and a charity shop is required

Report this post »

Maggie Would says...
3:01pm Fri 22 Feb 13

thesquirrel wrote:
Nooooooooooo. We want Starbucks not another Costa!
No we want neither. We want decent coffee shops selling decent quality coffee, not the inferior rubbish churned out by the big chains.
It would be nice to see a bit of individuality, such as has been demonstrated elsewhere in the city by Bolero, Mac & Jac's, Boston Tea Party etc.

Report this post »

Maggie Would says...
3:02pm Fri 22 Feb 13

stu2010 wrote:
We don't want more coffee shops. A new mobile phone shop and a charity shop is required
LOL a city can never have too many charity shops, can it?

Report this post »

Doogie 46 says...
3:32pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Wasn`t there supposed to be a couple of decent restaurants interested when the project was originally launched?
Could do with something entirely new to the city.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree