September 1, 2021 11.10 am This story is over 30 months old

Downtown shopping village back before council after Local Plan adoption

Plans were originally approved in February 2019
An artist's impression of Oldrid's designer outlet centre plans, which were recently passed | Photo: Oldrids & Co

A £125 million shopping village is set to be approved again next week after South Kesteven District Council approved its local plan this year.

The authority’s planning committee will re-examine the outline plans from Downtown, originally approved in February 2019, next Thursday.

They include 107 designer outlet stores, 2,000 parking spaces, offices and leisure provision – however, since the plans were brought back to the council Downtown has made minor amendments to how the office spaces for management staff, will be used.

It will also include a training academy with Grantham College to deliver skills opportunities.

Several councils, including Lincoln and Newark, have reiterated concerns that the development, along with another nearby £100 million outlet centre by Rioja Estates, could take trade away from town centres and high streets.

Other concerns centre around the expected additional traffic.

The masterplan for the site, including the aspirational new railway station.

Officers, however, have recommended approval.

They said: “The proposal would deliver significant benefits to the wider area, to Grantham and its economy.

“Although the site is located outside of Grantham to the north of Great Gonerby at Gonerby Moor it is considered to function as part of the Grantham economy and it is considered that the development of a Designer Outlet Centre at the application site would help to support and strengthen Grantham’s role as a Sub-Regional Centre.”