Iceland one step closer in securing spot at Chichester Retail Park

Iceland looks to be one step closer in securing a place at Barnfield Retail Park after Chichester District Council permitted a change in conditions for the unit.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jul 2016, 15:12 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 17:41 BST

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If Iceland secure the unit, it will mean four supermarkets close by, with Aldi (pictured) also moving to Barnfield Drive, and Sainsbury's and Lidl just southIf Iceland secure the unit, it will mean four supermarkets close by, with Aldi (pictured) also moving to Barnfield Drive, and Sainsbury's and Lidl just south
If Iceland secure the unit, it will mean four supermarkets close by, with Aldi (pictured) also moving to Barnfield Drive, and Sainsbury's and Lidl just south

These conditions previously prevented a clothing or food retailer from taking over the site to protect the ‘vitality and viability of Chichester City Centre’.

Sports Direct previously submitted an application to change the same condition as Iceland, however were refused on the grounds that it would draw away business from the central clothes shops.

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Cllr Carol Purnell said: “I don’t think this does any harm to the city centre at all.

“I think our city centre is well renowned for small shops, not for big warehouse supermarkets like this.”

She added: “We are trying to protect something but if the offer is right it does not need protection.”

Discount supermarket Aldi is already signed up to one of the units in Barnfield Drive, joining Wickes, Halfords and the already operating Homebase as the completed Phase One line-up.

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However, there was some dispute over changing the conditions, with Cllr Richard Plowman stating: “This is just another food outlet amongst more food outlets.

“We put the conditions there in the first place to protect the city centre – we can find another use for this building.”

Cllr Jane Kilby agreed, adding: “I have concerns that we will have a very large food park and in the long term it will have a detrimental effect to the city centre.”

Iceland said it had no plans to close its current store in South Street, adding that it had a ‘long-standing requirement for an additional store in the Chichester area’.

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Related topics:IcelandChichester District CouncilAldi