Decision is due today on new M&S food store (From Cotswold Journal)

Decision is due today on new M&S food store

9:51am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

COUNCIL chiefs will decide today (Thursday) if plans for a new Marks & Spencer Simply Food store on the outskirts of Evesham will go ahead.

The application to open the shop at Evesham Retail Park and not in the town centre has caused some controversy but has been recommended for approval by Wychavon’s planning officer with the condition that a contribution of £95,000 is made towards promoting town centre schemes.

The new shop and café would occupy two empty units at the out-of-town development on Worcester Road and create up to 60 new jobs.

The plans have been supported by Evesham Town Council, with councillors saying it was better to have the shop somewhere in the town, even if it was regrettable that it is not in the centre.

If passed, the application would see the return of the brand name retailer which left its former home in Evesham’s Riverside Shopping Centre four years ago, citing poor footfall and location.

Members will also be ruling on a number of other major applications including more than 500 homes on Offenham Road, Evesham, and the latest on a controversial housing development at Allesborough Farm, Pershore, which was originally refused by Wychavon only to be allowed on appeal.

􀁥 Visit eveshamjournal.co.uk this afternoon for information on the decisions made.