‘A thumping great Tesco is the last thing this seaside town needs. But try telling the planners’ writes Jonathan Glancey in today’s ‘The Tesco Chumps of Norfolk’ Guardian article. An interesting piece, and interesting comments – seeing how this obviously contentious local planning issue pans out. Whilst I can’t comment on the case, not knowing the full ins-and-outs of all parties involved and the full context I’d like to at least say that, as an urban planner, I’m listening!
That said, that’s not to assume I either whole-heartedly despise large supermarket chains or local-out-of town initiatives – or love either (ok, perhaps ideally the latter is far more appealing, especially with its potential free allotments and carbon-reducing local produce). It would all, ultimately, have to depend on context and what the site/town/community needs. To my knowledge though, Sea Change investments haven’t yet centered around new large supermarkets at the centers of such places. More to this case is the concern as to how the elderly, or those that don’t drive, or those that don’t want to drive (perhaps hampered by poor cycle routes, public transport connections etc) are supposed to benefit from shops and services on the outskirts? This conundrum isn’t without its remedies, but then, come to think of it they can’t be conducive to steaming High Street/Town centre decline in Britain (drawing people away from Sheringham’s inner sphere)?
Perhaps the answer in this circumstance is neither, plus a little bit of both?
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