A public inquiry will determine the future of the Crispin Shopping Centre in Street, Somerset, after plans for redevelopment faced opposition
Street: The future of the Crispin Shopping Centre is up in the air. This place has been around since 1979, but it’s really seen better days, especially after the Tesco Metro closed down.
Churchill Retirement Living wants to tear it down and build a retirement complex with 45 apartments and 11 cottages. Sounds nice, right? But the local planning committee said no back in July, mainly because they were worried about parking and the design not fitting in with the area.
After that, Churchill wasn’t too happy and decided to appeal. The Planning Inspectorate has set a public inquiry for April 23 to sort this all out. The site is part of a plan to add more housing in the area, so it’s a big deal.
If the new plans go through, they’ll replace the old shopping centre with a three-storey building and some cottages. They’re planning to have a communal parking area, but the committee is still worried about how it’ll all work out.
Churchill argues that this new development would be great for the community, providing a place for older folks to live independently and reducing loneliness. They believe it’s in a good spot, making it easy for residents to get around without needing a car.
The inquiry will last up to six days, and if you want to have your say, you can make a formal representation before January 30. It’s a chance for the community to weigh in on what happens next.
