The planning application for work at the old Approach / BP Garage has now been submitted to Test Valley Borough Council.
The proposal states: “Demolition of part of the buildings and retain petrol filling station and ancillary shop, Convert and extend former car dealership to provide two A1 retail units and one A3 drive-thru restaurant, erection of building to provide A1 retail unit. Provision of car, bicycle, motorcycle parking, ancillary areas and landscaping scheme.”
You can view the details here:
Thanks to Damian Everett for the tip off.
Don’t be fooled into thinking it is just a drive-thru restaurant it is not. The proposal is for a family restaurant with a drive-thru facility.
I note the traffic impact assessment makes no mention of the traffic already generated by the Churchill retail park and no figures are included for this existing development, it only makes reference to traffic movements for Watery Lane. There seems to be no mention of expected traffic flow out of the restaurant car park on to New St therefore I assume that traffic exiting the PFS & restaurant will be able to turn right onto New St? If so, this needs to be re-thought.
You only get 1 shot at getting the capacity right so if traffic flows are greater than those anticipated who will pay for highway improvements? The developer should be bound by a sect.106 agreement to indemnify the highway authority against costs of improvements after the development is completed should they become necessary.
I make no reference to the proposed occupant of the restaurant as that is not a planning matter but I would contend that given who it will be, a far greater number of vehicle movements will be generated than the traffic impact assessment suggests.
Development is welcomed but it needs to be right from the outset.
Nice to read such an intelligent and well thought out post on this subject. I am inclined to agree with you Mike. Here we have a chance to generate new economic activity in this part of town, improve the street scape and make use of a derelict site. For goodness sake let this not be ruined by inappropriate traffic management. Along with the redevelopment of the former Household waste and recycling centre, this part of town will look much improved.
Furthermore, having a petrol station at this location will also be very convenient and well used I don’t doubt.