In a delicious paradox, the Chequers Too sandwich bar at 16b Broughton Street and the Tesco Local on Picardy Place are likely to join in objecting to the proposed arrival of Greggs the Baker (Breaking news, 18.10.11).
They may appear unlikely bedfellows, since Tesco is widely held responsible for ruthlessly outcompeting small, independent businesses, but both stand to lose out if Greggs enters the local lunchtime market. Any letter of objection by Tesco will certainly make for interesting reading.
Meanwhile, Checkers Too's Karen Bowman has already scored a minor victory. She only received official notification of the Greggs application on 26 October, leaving her less than a week to formulate and deliver a response.
However, she has now succeeded in getting Planning officials to extend the deadline until 8 November and will use the intervening period to seek support from local elected representatives.
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In Breaking news (28.10.11) we reported how Planning officials had given Sainsbury's agent 2 weeks in which to redraw plans for an outlet on Howe Street (Ref. 11/02841/FUL).
The original designs were considered inappropriate for a Category A-listed building in the heart of the World Heritage Site and New Town Conservation Zone.
Now, the 'creative minds safe hands' at George Street-based WYG Planning & Design have written to the Council Planning Department withdrawing their client's application.
But opponents of the proposal should not start celebrating just yet. As Sainsbury's letter of 26 October made clear, the supermarket giant still covets potential customers here and will likely return with fresh plans soon.
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Proposals for a major new mixed-use residential and commercial scheme at 14–16, 20, 24 and 26 Beaverhall Road were first reported here after a Pre-Application Consultation over the summer (Breaking news, 28.7.11).
Springfield Properties and MD and JG Rutterford have now submitted a formal application (Ref. 11/03374/FUL).
Some 89 new housing units are proposed in much the same proportions as before: 5 townhouses, 30 apartments, 39 mid-market rental flats, 15 affordable properties. Only 67 parking spaces will be provided. It is not clear to us whether plans for Class 4 commercial space have changed.
At first sight, the plans seem much the same as those seen on 28 July which received Spurtle's cautious approval and later that of the New Town and Broughton Community Council. Unfortunately, the online PAC document summarising public reactions to the summer consultation cannot be opened at present.
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Yesterday (Breaking news, 1.11.11) we broke the news that Real Foods on Broughton Street is fighting a Council enforcement notice ordering it to remove all signage. Readers' reactions are being added to the end of the article as they come in.
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UPDATE
Responses by email
I read with interest the audacity of Tesco objecting to competition. Yes they see Greggs as an aggressive marketer, a bit like themselves: both big fish swimming in a small Broughton pool. John MacDonald
Typically crass behaviour from a Council which has presided over (and seemingly encouraged) the steady decline and homogenisation of the city's streetscape – not least the insidious spread of bland charity shops and garish 'local' branches of national supermarket chains. Do these idiots really have nothing better to do with our time and money? D.J. Young