No plans to close Ashley Heath One Stop after new store plan refusal

Earlier this year, developers in discussion with a national retail operator wanted to build a new convenience store on land just off the Horton Road in Ashley Heath – in a location around 175 yards away from an existing One Stop store.

The proposed 370 square metre store would have provided 32 parking spaces in total.

Dorset Council refused the plans, which also included the construction of a new dwelling, in July due to a blanket Tree Preservation Order (TPO) in the woodland section of the proposed site.

In his report citing reasons for refusal, head of planning Mike Garrity said: “[The trees] make an important and positive contribution to the area.

Aerial image of Ashley Heath showing One Stop store (red circle) in proximity to proposed convenience store (blue circle) (Image: Google)

“The proposed development could not be achieved without the permanent loss of the entire northern half of this protected woodland. [This] would damage and diminish the visual amenity provided to the area by this woodland.”

The proposals were not warmly welcomed by residents either. In total, 82 letters of objection from 57 households were received, where traffic congestion on the busy Horton Road and loss of privacy for residents in the nearby Emerald Close were among reasons cited.

One resident said: “Additional traffic joining this busy 40 mile an hour road presents increased risk of accident. We already have a convenience store within 300 metres of the proposed location, so why do we need another?”

It has been speculated locally that Tesco would have been the retailer to operate at the site. Residents also suggested the One Stop store would subsequently close, as the One Stop brand is a subsidiary of Tesco.

Refused plans for new convenience store off Horton Road. (Image: RIBA Chartered Architects)

A representative for One Stop told the Bournemouth Echo they had no plans to redevelop the existing Ashley Heath site, which has been open for more than 20 years.

Planning for the proposed store and property was handled by Darryl Howells. He said: “I can advise that the applicant was in discussions with a national retail operator to take up occupancy of the proposed outlet.

“Competition to a nearby convenience shop is not a material planning consideration but due to the expansion of new housing in the area, we felt the proposed retail unit was justified in policy terms.

“It is disappointing that the Local Planning Authority resisted the application on tree grounds, despite the applicant offering a tree management plan to maintain the trees for decades to come.”

He added there were no plans to reapply at present.