Co-operative Convenience Stores

Q+A Planning was instructed by NewRiver REIT plc, a leading property investor, asset manager and developer, to secure planning permission for new convenience store developments on a portfolio of pub sites across England. The stores are operated by the Co-operative as local community food supermarkets.

Where possible the existing pubs were retained and new store development was provided alongside. In some cases, where it was clear that the pub did not have a viable future, conversion or redevelopment of the site was the only option.

The applications raised a wide variety of complex issues, and often proved contentious with significant numbers of objections being lodged. These objections covered issues ranging from retail impact to effects of the schemes on residential amenity, or heritage assets. We backed up careful management of the planning application process with thorough and detailed evidence to support each case, and patient and constructive negotiation with local planning authorities and other interest groups.

Despite the challenges, the collaborative approach delivered significant success. To date we have secured over 40 planning consents on sites throughout England. In some cases appeals have been unavoidable, but the team has secured a success rate at appeal of over 90 per cent.