Scheme for new Asda in Blackpool set to go before planners

Developers are seeking permission to demolish the Anchorsholme petrol filling station on Fleetwood Road and replace it with a convenience store which would be operated by the national chain.

The site is owned by EG Group, part of the business empire founded by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa who now part-own Asda.

Documents submitted with the application say the petrol station is under-performing which is why an alternative use is being sought.

A design statement adds: "The decommissioning of petrol filling stations is a time consuming and cost hungry process.

"There are few prospective uses which would enable a viable redevelopment to be undertaken and a positive use brought forward at such sites.

"The use of the land as a convenience store would represent such a use and will result in a continuation of retail uses at the site, enable job retention and creation an increased level of choice and value for customers who will overwhelmingly be drawn from the immediate locality.

"The proposed store is small in scale and not large enough to give rise to impact concerns or impact on existing shopping patterns."

If it went ahead, the store would trade 24 hours a day to meet demand for top-up shopping, with 21 car parking spaces also provided. Eight new full-time jobs would also be created.

But town hall planners are recommending the application is refused by the planning committee which is due to make a decision on Tuesday June 14.

They say the site is unsuitable for the development because it is not within one of Blackpool's established district or main shopping areas.

A council report says: "The scheme proposes to demolish the existing petrol station and ancillary store and change the use of the site to a convenience retail store, which is a main town centre use as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework and as such should be located in accordance with the retail hierarchy and the council’s regeneration strategy and aims."