FOLLOWING news last year that Sainsbury’s was pulling out of Carmarthenshire County Council’s much-heralded Cross Hands West retail development, developer Conygar Ltd has submitted plans for a large-scale retail development on the site.
However, the Coal Authority has expressed ‘fundamental concern’ about probable mining activity in the area of the proposed development, which encompasses a former spoil tip.
Conygar Ltd claims that the development will create 260 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. There will be a mixture of retail and food outlets, and a pub/ restaurant on the 10 acre site, along with a 562-space car park.
The company, which acquired the land shortly after Sainsbury’s claimed that the development was no longer viable, says that there will be a total of 106,000 sq.ft of shopping space, which will include a discount food store, a drive-through coffee shop, and two ‘hot food takeaway outlets’.
According to the design statement included with the plans, which can be found online on the Carmarthenshire County Council website: “as the scheme seeks consent for the development of a previously undeveloped food retail site the principle of the scheme is deemed appropriate and acceptable.”
Council Leader Emlyn Dole has responded to the consultation, and ‘fully supports’ the development. The developer has stated that work would begin on the site this summer, subject to planning approval being granted.
The Coal Authority, a nondepartmental public body sponsored by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, was contacted on April 7, and responded on April 16. Their letter confirmed that the site ‘falls within the defined Development High Risk Area.’
It goes on to state that: “the Coal Authority information indicates that within the application site and surrounding area there are coal mining features and hazards which need to be considered in relation to the determination of this planning application, specifically likely historic unrecorded underground coal mining at shallow depth associated with a thick coal outcrop and recorded mine entries.”
Part of the work carried out in preparing the site included the capping of a mine shaft within the development area.
The Coal Authority’s grounds for objecting to the application that ‘the required Coal Mining Risk Assessment Report, or evidence that ground conditions have been taken into consideration, has not been submitted as part of the application.’
As is pointed out: “It is a requirement of Planning Policy Wales, paragraph 13.9 that the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the LPA that the application site is safe, stable and suitable for development.”
The Coal Authority recommended that: “in accordance with the agreed risk-based approach to development management in Development High Risk Areas, the applicant should be informed that they need to submit a Coal Mining Risk Assessment Report, or evidence that coal mining issues have been taken into consideration, as part of this application.
“Without such an assessment and/or evidence of any risks to the development proposal posed by past coal mining activity, based on up-todate coal mining information, The Coal Authority does not consider that the LPA has sufficient information to determine this planning application and therefore objects to this proposal.
“If the applicant ultimately fails to demonstrate to the LPA that the application site is safe and stable to accommodate the proposed development then the LPA may refuse planning permission, in accordance with the paragraph 13.9 of Planning Policy Wales.”
Head of Planning Llinos Quelch said: “The planning application was registered on the April 6 and is seeking approval for the provision of a retail park with associated infrastructure.
“This proposal is a new application on a site that has a lengthy planning history with previous approvals having been granted to develop the site for retail purposes.
“However, this application will be determined on its own merits, including addressing any issues that may arise as part of the determination process and, for example, needing to show that appropriate works have been carried out to address any objections received.”
Add Comment