By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for an “enormous” multi-storey car park at Cotswolds Designer Outlet have been rejected while plans for another parking area have been approved.
Tewkesbury Borough Councillors considered the two separate proposals by Robert Hitchins Ltd for the new shopping destination off the A46 at junction 9 of the M5 near Tewkesbury.
Officers said the 609-space proposed 51ft multi-storey car park on land north of the Tirle Brook would be highly prominent and not in keeping with the scale and traditional design of the nearby retail outlet.
“The multi-storey car park would undermine the attractive and well defined articulation of the retail outlet buildings themselves,” council officer Sarah Smith told the planning committee on Tuesday (August 19).
“The number of storeys provided in this application and the impact it would have on the character and appearance of the retail outlet village itself is considered unacceptable in design terms.”
Councillor Mel Gore (I, Isbourne) said she totally agreed with the officers and praised their comprehensive report. She proposed rejecting the scheme amid concerns over its scale.
“I do feel this is going too far,” she said. “It’s enormous and it doesn’t fit within the landscape.”
This was seconded by Cllr Mary Jordan (LD, Churchdown St John) who echoed the concerns.
“On site you can get a feel of the impact a structure of this size would have on, not only the residential amenity but the whole area,” she said.
“The design of the outlet centre would be totally ruined.”
And Councillor Matt Dimond-Brown (G, Tewkesbury South) said he completely agreed with his committee colleagues.
“This is of such a scale, that you would almost, if you were a cynic, suggest it has been put forward to then make us favour the other application rather than this one,” he said.
“But of course, we can’t say that publicly, oh I just have!
“This is designed in such a way I don’t think any of us could quite reasonably accept it because of its size and scale. It just does not fit into this particular area.”
Councillors voted unanimously to reject these plans but separate plans to demolish existing buildings at Natton House, Ashchurch to the south have been approved unanimously.
That scheme includes the demolition of existing buildings and structures on the site and the construction of a surface level car park and single storey decked car park with 607 spaces with associated access, infrastructure work and landscaping.
Planners say the proposal would effectively replace the displaced car parking spaces of the temporary car park which is due to be built over through the second phase of the retail outlet centre.
Concerns were raised during the meeting over pedestrian crossings and the need for the 30mph speed limit to be extended from the roundabout towards the car park.
Highway officers said they intended to secure a suitable connection from the car park to the A46 corridor.
And they are aware of the speed limit change on Fiddington Lane. They said they would secure traffic calming measures for the scheme.