35 retirement flats and smaller Minehead Co-op refused

The Co-operative Group Ltd. joined forces with McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd. to propose the creation of 35 flats to the south of the existing Co-operative Food store between The Avenue and Summerland Avenue in the centre of Minehead.

The proposals, submitted in March 2024, would have seen the existing food store being replaced with a more modern outlet, with the retirement flats and associated facilities being delivered to the rear.

But Somerset Council has now put the brakes on the proposal, describing the design of the new store as "incongruous" in relation to the wider town centre.

The site lies in the heart of Minehead town centre, within walking distance of a wide range of shops, the seafront and the Blenheim Gardens green space.

Artist's impression of revamped Co-operative Food store on The Avenue in Minehead (Image: PBL)

The retirement properties would have been a mixture of 24 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom flats, with access being provided to a residents' lounge and communal gardens on the ground floor and a number of rooms being aside to allow family members to stay overnight.

A total of 21 parking spaces would have been provided for the flats, with a further 19 for the retail unit and storage being put aside for mobility scooters and bicycles.

The new food store would have had a combined floor space of around 4,400 sq ft, with deliveries still being able to use the existing side road between Summerland Avenue and The Avenue.

A spokesman for PBL (representing the developers) said: "The Co-op is not able to compete effectively with other superstores in Minehead and is already operating as a convenience store in this location, meaning that it is just too large for the range of goods that it sells.

"Having a smaller food store within the town to serve a top-up role allows the Co-op to differentiate itself from those other food stores and compete effectively with them.

"As a result, the Co-op has been eager to explore downsize opportunities to reduce the sales floorspace so that it can perform the role of a convenience store and to be able to take advantage of longer trading hours on Sundays.

"This is important during the summer months when Minehead sees a tourism increase. This takes account of the existing food store competition in Minehead and is the optimal size of food store for the Co-op in this location."

The council refused the plans by the delegated powers of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee west (which handles major applications within the former Somerset West and Taunton area).

Chief planning officer Alison Blom-Cooper said: "The retail building proposed, by virtue of is small scale and design, would fail to reflect the character and the appearance of The Avenue, which is characterised by two-storey buildings fronting on to a tree-lined street.

Artist's impression of 35 retirement flats, seen from Summerland Avenue in Minehead (Image: PBL)

"The proposed building would appear as an incongruous addition to the street, which would erode the established character of the of the area and to which the existing building currently contributes.

"For the same reasons, the proposed development would give rise to less than substantial harm to the setting of the Wellington Square conservation area, and fails to preserve or enhance the setting of this designated heritage asset."

The developers have not indicated whether they intend to appeal the decision.