Huntingdon old Woolworths plans refused by district council

A planning application had been submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council to convert the Grade II Listed Building into two new shops, a 31-room hotel, and a car showroom.

The building, which sits at 111 High Street in Huntingdon, used to be a Woolworths and a Poundland before it closed in 2019. It has been vacant ever since.

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Last night, Huntingdonshire District Council's Development Management Committee sat for a two-and-a-half-hour meeting, where the fate of the building was decided.

Discussions began with a report from planning officer Lucy Bateman, who put forward a recommendation for refusal for the application, despite Huntingdon Town Council's hopes for approval.

Ms Bateman said: "The two shops and hotel in the application are supported, but the car showroom is not considered to be main town centre use. Non main town centre uses will not be supported at ground floor level in a primary shopping area - which this building is in."

The planning officer also pointed out several flaws in the application including inaccuracies on some of the submitted drawings. It appeared that there were discrepancies between the number of windows on several drawings.

The planning application was also submitted without a noise impact assessment and an air quality assessment.

David Landon Cole, a councillor at Huntingdon Town Council, gave a passionate plea in favour of the application.

David Landon Cole gave a passionate speech at the meeting. (Image: David Landon Cole.)

Cllr Cole told the panel: "The benefits of this application have been understated in this report. 

"The plan will bring the building back into use, which is a substantial benefit that will safeguard it. While there are mistakes in the application, they are not fatal. 

"We think the building is so important, that the uses of the building are so important, and that the building should not be left any longer."

Cllr Cole admitted: "A luxury car showroom isn’t what Huntingdon Town Council would have chosen here but it may mean that the building comes back into use, which is really important to the town."

Cllr Cole's plea was met with resistance from planning officers, who said: "The panel have been encouraged to look at the emptiness of the building and give it some leeway - I ask you to disregard this point. 

"Otherwise, we send the message out that if you let buildings go into disrepair, we’ll give you leeway."

The committee were then informed that neither a planning agent or the applicant were present at the meeting.

In the discussion stage, Cllr Eric Butler said: "It's a very poor application with a lot of questions that haven't been answered."

Cllr Jon Neish added: "I can understand where Huntingdon Town Council are coming from as we want these buildings to be brought back into use, but we need them brought back properly."

Cllr Steve McAdam, who also serves on Huntingdon Town Council, said: "The site is crying out for a new use. The building is deteriorating in front of our eyes.

"I’m very disappointed that we don’t have a good enough application. My heart is with Huntingdon Town Council but we have to be realistic here. I refuse."

The application was refused Huntingdonshire District Council.