Angus planning councillors have extended the timeframe for a developer to complete their search for a long-awaited Kirriemuir supermarket operator.
Some four and a half years after approval of permission in principle for a site at Pathhead signalled a milestone in a long-running local saga, development standards committee members have effectively renewed the permission after the economic downturn saw interest stall among potential operators.
The 3.2 hectare slice of land to the south of Kirrie remains the same application site, but since original permission was granted there has also been substantial development of allocated employment land at East Muirhead of Logie on the opposite side of the A926 Forfar road.
Road changes including the creation of a new roundabout to improve access to the site are part of the proposal and Angus officials expressed sympathy with the challenges facing by applicant Guild Homes in attracting a big-name operator for a store of up to 3,995 square metres.
The committee report stated: “The applicant has written to confirm that in the interim period since the original grant of planning permission, they have been actively seeking an operator for a supermarket at the site.
“The applicant indicates that as a result of recent global economic conditions, they were unable to secure an operator for the site and have now requested a further three-year period in which to submit further applications and an additional period of two years to implement the permission.”
Officials added that part of the original planning application also involved a requirement for road improvements if permission for another supermarket at the town centre Gairie Works was implemented, but that approval has now lapsed.
Councillors were told: “In conclusion, the council has previously granted planning permission in principle for this development.
“The allocation of the site for convenience retail development in the adopted Angus local development plan is a significant consideration that firmly establishes the position in relation to principle of retail development on the site.
“Detailed matters such as the layout of the site and design of the buildings will require the submission of further applications to allow those matters to be considered.”
The committee unanimously backed the conditional approval recommendation for the three-year extension.
