Marks and Spencer Foodhall. 

We were approached by Avenbury Properties Ltd to prepare and submit a planning application for a Marks and Spencer’s foodhall in Ludlow, Shropshire.

How We Approached The Project

The development initially raised several planning issues as the site is located next to a strategic road network, outside the town centre and on an allocated employment site in the local plan where retail development would not normally be the preferred land use.

In addition to this, the site also presented potential for archaeology and the Council highlighted the importance of preserving the historic setting of Ludlow requiring an assessment of views and visual impacts.

How We Achieved The Project

We invested in a positive stakeholder engagement process including a public exhibition and meeting with key stakeholders including local parish and town councils and the Chamber of Trade and Commerce. The engagement process allowed us to work positively with Shropshire Council planning officers, making significant changes to the design of the building, which is bespoke to its location.

A key positive aspect of this development we presented was that it provided the means to unlock an employment site allocated in the adopted local plan which had lain dormant for nine years. The scheme will provide estate road access to wider employment land and anchor a land use likely to attract other investors as well as providing up to 70 jobs.

Berrys were delighted to secure planning permission on behalf of Avenbury Properties Limited, bringing a new Marks and Spencer foodhall to the historic market town of Ludlow, Shropshire.