New M&S store to be built in Stowmarket alongside two other national retailers following Mid Suffolk District Council approval

A new M&S Foodhall store will be built in a town alongside two other national retailers following planning approval.

Members of Mid Suffolk's planning committee discussed a bid submitted by Location 3 Properties Limited to build three retail units on land adjacent to Tomo Road and Gun Cotton Way, in Stowmarket.

Alastair Thornton, director at Simply Planning, said the units, which would be occupied by an M&S Foodhall store and two other national retailers, were the 'culmination of many months of hard work'.

The plans were for a floor area totalling 5,298 sqm and a large 238-vehicle car park also accompanying it, with the other two national retailers described as comparison goods and mixed goods.

Mr Thornton said: "We are hugely proud of the proposals before you and believe that will signal that Stowmarket is open for investment."

Philip Marsden, of M&S, said Stowmarket had been a 'target town' for some time and promised around 70 new jobs would be created as part of the store alone.

A total of 180 jobs were proposed as part of the whole development.

The officer's report said the initial investment to the site was in excess of £14 million, which could act as a catalyst for further investment within the town.

Cllr Colin Lay, the ward member, said residents had consistently shared their enthusiasm with the plans since they first came forward in 2023.

He said: "This development represents some opportunity for residents to remain closer to home while potentially fostering a scenario where individuals from neighbouring villages and towns begin to regard Stowmaket more favourably as an overall shopping destination.

"If the applicant is open to making a longer term commitment to support initiatives that we have already set in motion, I envision this development as a valuable addition to our community."

Cllr Lay warned, however, the proposals should be scrutinised thoroughly to prevent oversights.

For instance, he argued, the proposal for 20 per cent of the site's energy to come from solar panels was a 'poor commitment'.

This concern was shared by a number of councillors who prompted officers to include an extra condition on increasing the number of solar panels and electric charging bays.

Further concerns were shared by councillors and officers alike on the potential impact of the store on nearby and town centre businesses.

According to the officer's report, the development is predicted to result in trade diversion of over 11.5 per cent, or £7.7 million.

Though most of it the impact would be felt by the ASDA and B&M stores, smaller, independent retailers within the wider town centre would feel the effects.

Cllr Nicholas Hardingham warned the inclusion of three national retailers could mean the closing down of some smaller businesses.

He said: "I would suspect that most of the independent traders in Stowmarket are in a pretty precarious financial situation and that an 11 per cent loss in trade would be calamitous.

"We are likely to see a cascade of losses of smaller shops, bearing in mind we have no guarantee as to who the retailers might be and what they might sell."

In the round, however, councillors and officers felt the benefits outweighed the potential harm from the development

When it came to voting, councillors granted planning permission subject to conditions with seven votes for and one against.

At the request of Cllr Sarah Manel, the committee's chairwoman, an extra condition was added to include amendments to walking and cycling infrastructure.