Lark Grange residents in Bury St Edmunds express delight at news of convenience store, linked to Sainsbury's, but concerns over takeaway
Housing estate residents have expressed their excitement that a convenience store is planned to open there, but some raised concerns over a possible takeaway next door.
Last week, the Bury Free Press reported that Sainsbury’s had been mentioned within documents for an application for a community hub area on the Lark Grange development, Bury St Edmunds.
The application by LSP Developments Ltd is for the ‘local centre’ on the wider housing estate at Lark Grange, Moreton Hall, near the Flying Fortress pub.
The plans, submitted to West Suffolk Council, set out the details for the construction of this area, which would include a single building to house two retail units, plus servicing yard, parking spaces and landscaping.
The noise assessment submitted with the application says the intention is the larger main retail unit will be used as a convenience store operated by Sainsbury’s.
It adds that the second, smaller retail unit will be operated by a hot food vendor, with both intended to operate between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.
Commenting on a Facebook group for Lark Grange, Nikki Harvey said it was ‘brilliant’ news.
“Very happy, the nearest shop is a half-an-hour walk away, not everybody drives, some of us here are disabled and can’t walk very far,” she said.
Emily Morris added: “Looking forward to them opening!…..and the pub!”
Jayne Saggers said she was not sure another Sainsbury’s was the right choice as there was already a Sainsbury’s on Moreton Hall.
Some people expressed a preference for a coffee shop in the smaller unit. Donna Pidgeon said: “Something like a sit-in Costa/Starbucks would be nice, or an independent coffee shop.”
A possible hot food takeaway raised some concerns, with worries over litter and gatherings at night.
Kim Sheldrick also felt a fast-food outlet probably wouldn’t be good for the nearby pub, the Flying Fortress.
When asked about the plans for the pub, a Greene King spokesperson said once the housing development around the Flying Fortress had been completed they could begin looking at timescales for refurbishing and reopening the venue.
An application running alongside the ‘reserved matters’ application for the local centre seeks to increase the gross floor area for both commercial units combined from 330sqm to 460sqm.
