Balham shops at risk from new store

By: Steve Mayner
Telephone 020 8871 7524 or email smayner@wandsworth.gov.uk

Wandsworth councillors say plans to increase the amount of retail space at a new foodstore at Clapham South could have a damaging impact on shops in nearby Balham town centre.

The development, which is on the old South West London Women's Hospital site falls just inside the borough of Lambeth.

Tesco, who are building the store, say they want to add an extra 175 square metres of shopping area. This would be achieved by relocating a proposed café to the first floor.

The Secretary of State approved proposals for a 2,500 square metre foodstore on the site in December 2001 - overturning his own inspector's ruling. Following a challenge by Wandsworth the Secretary of State's decision was upheld in the High Court in July 2002.

The judge said that a neighbourhood or local centre like Clapham South could also be construed as a town centre. For this reason the Secretary of State did not have to require the applicant to establish a need for the store

Wandsworth had previously urged Lambeth to reject the proposal. It feared the new store would drain trade away from Balham town centre and bring extra traffic onto the area’s already congested roads.

Wandsworth planning applications chairman Ravi Govindia said:

"This whole development has driven a coach and horses through Government planning policies for retail development.

"If established shopping centres are to remain attractive to shoppers and continue serving their local communities, it is important they are protected against major car-borne developments like these."

Councillors urged their Lambeth counterparts not to allow any creeping expansion of the currently approved food store.

You can view the planning application on www.wandsworth.gov.uk/planning by keying in reference 2004/4085