Sports Direct Shrewsbury store move takes big step forward

The store wants to move from its current position on the park into a new 2,787sqm building between TK Maxx and Argos.

Concerns raised by councillors about about traffic access have now been addressed.

The council's planning officers had recommended the development for approval, but planning committee members asked for more details from the authority's highways department before they make a decision.

Now a response from Croft Transport Solutions has been submitted to the planning application and the applicant hopes that the plans can go back to central planning on February 15.

It says the new store would only create minimal extra traffic, but that it would carry out works to improve the flow of cars to and from the shopping centre. These measures include works within the car park and the creation of a new exit lane at the Hereford Road roundabout.

A Croft Transport report adds that there "is nothing to suggest" that the site has any potential safety or emergency access issues and the proposed highway improvements at the Hereford Road site access would provide further capacity should it be required for emergency vehicle access.

The report concludes: "No objection has been raised by professional officers at Shropshire Council and this note demonstrates that there is no highways or transport reasons to withhold planning consent."

NJL Consulting, on behalf of the applicant, said: "We have provided clarification on matters raised by council members in their deferral of the planning application on December 21.

"As such, officers and members can be confident in granting consent for an entirely appropriate development."

The application has already faced delay over concerns about the impact of the development on traffic. Amended proposals were submitted to address the issues, with a plan to create a third exit lane on the Hereford Road Roundabout.

A decision will be made on the plans at a later date.