Sainsbury’s and Bishop’s Waltham – Statement from Winchester City Council
The Leader of Winchester City Council, Cllr Stephen Godfrey, said:
The proposed development of the Sainsbury’s supermarket at Bishop’s Waltham divided opinion when it was granted planning consent and no doubt there will be mixed feelings about their decision not to proceed.
Bishop’s Waltham is a thriving market town and, with support from the City Council and other agencies, its town centre businesses have risen to all the challenges they face of creating an attractive commercial centre. Sainsbury’s might have added to this, but Bishop’s Waltham will prosper regardless.
Sainsbury’s have indicated that the site will be actively marketed and it is likely to attract considerable interest. The City Council will encourage any prospective developer to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Parish Council and local community before submitting any planning application.
The provision of a doctor’s surgery on the site was acceptable in planning terms and is likely to remain so, but the City Council as local planning authority cannot require that it should be part of an alternative proposal. Nevertheless, we hope that anyone looking to develop the site will give active consideration to this in discussion with the GPs.