OFFICIALS Urge Go-Ahead For Co-op’s New Gourock Store Plan

5 October, 2021 | Local, Planning

[Article updated to advise of cancellation of scheduled planning board meeting]

INVERCLYDE Council planners are recommending that approval be given for a large new Co-op convenience store in Gourock.

The Fisher Trucks premises in Cardwell Road would be demolished to create a site for the new premises which would replace both the shops the Co-op currently has in the town — in Shore Street and Cardwell Road.

Those outlets have combined sales floorspace of just under 200 square metres. The new shop would have a sales area of 460 square metres. The two storey-building would have storage accommodation on the upper floor.

A new traffic light pedestrian crossing would be installed on Cardwell Road (between Caledonia Gardens and Tarbet Street) as part of the development. Twenty-three parking spaces would be provided.

A report by planners, published online ahead of a scheduled meeting of Inverclyde Planning Board, urged that councillors give the go-ahead for the store. The planning board meeting, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday (6 October), has been cancelled because of an administrative error and the Co-op application will be considered at a future meeting.

The report stated: “As the application site is not within an established town or local centre as defined by the adopted Inverclyde Local Development Plan, [the proposal] is technically contrary to the development plan.

“Having considered all aspects of the proposal however, including the potential impact on the nearest town and local centres, it is concluded that the limited impacts on these centres would not justify refusal of the proposal.

“Furthermore, there are positive benefits associated with the proposal through the retention and possible growth of employment opportunities and the redevelopment of a brownfield site at the heart of the local community.”

The Shore Street store
The current Cardwell Road store

A statement submitted to planners on behalf of the Co-op explained: “The Co-operative Group are committed to making a significant investment to provide a new larger foodstore in Gourock, improving on the quality of their existing stores and improving the convenience retail offer in the town.

“Customers expect supermarkets to provide an attractive shopping environment with suitable space, allowing them to undertake shopping trips efficiently and in relative comfort.

“The existing Co-op stores at Gourock do not allow for this and the Co-operative Group is therefore keen to meet customer expectations and demands in Gourock by providing a single better store with improved environment, retail offer and facilities.”

It continued: “The proposed new store will be of sufficient size to stock a wider range of convenience items than either of the existing stores, including improved range and choice of fresh fruit and vegetables, together with fresh grocery items, frozen and convenience foods, tinned and dry goods, and beers wines and spirits.”

The document also stated: “…the Co-operative Group own the premises at 40 Cardwell Road and, while they will be vacating this property, it will represent an opportunity for a new entrant.

“Given the health of the local centre, the Co-op is confident that they will secure an occupier/s for the store which they are vacating, creating the potential for the introduction of new retail or other appropriate use within the local centre.

“The existing Co-op store at 97 Shore Street will close as part of the proposals, but this is unlikely to have any significant impact on the vibrancy, vitality or viability of Gourock town centre. The Co-op store is small and is in a part of Shore Street where there are two other convenience stores, together with a butcher and a baker.”

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