A village pub which fell victim to the first lockdown could be demolished and replaced by a new Co-op.
The supermarket chain has submitted plans for a new store on the site of the old Dog and Partridge, in the High Lane area of Stockport.
Boasting a ‘modern glazed’ exterior, the 650 sq m shop would sit on Buxton Road between the village’s two main shopping parades.
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It would create the equivalent of 10 full-time jobs and, the Co-op claims, create an ‘anchor top-up convenience offer’, that would bolster the local economy.
The loss of the pub will no doubt come as a blow to its former patrons. But the applicant argues there are plenty of similar venues locally, while a new store would have a galvanising effect on the area.
A planning document submitted with the application claims ‘the proposed development will make a positive contribution to the vitality and viability of High Lane’, without having any ‘significant adverse impact’ on the village.
“The proposals will address an existing deficiency in top up convenience shopping in High Lane and encourage more people to shop locally,” it states.
“As such, the convenience retail offer for the centre as a whole would be improved, rather than diminished, by the provision of the proposed development and will bring an increase in consumer choice.”
It adds that an assessment of other potential sites in the area shows that none are preferable to the one that has been selected.
As well as meeting the ‘day-to-day’ needs of High Lane residents, the shop is also intended to attract passing trade from Buxton Road (A6) - a key route between Manchester and the Peak District.
The document adds that the site is in a ‘highly accessible location’, providing ‘the opportunity for customers and staff to travel to the Co-op by foot or bicycle’.
A regular bus service also runs between Manchester Airport, Stockport and Buxton. meaning travel by public transport would be an option for staff working at the store.
The nearest bus stop is on Buxton Road, with two services per hour during the day and one bus per hour during the evening and at weekends.
For those who drive, however, there will be 25 car parking spaces, as well as three disabled bays, and two motorcycle spaces.
The plans also include eight parking spaces for cyclists.
The store would open between 6am and 11pm every day of the week, including Sundays and Bank Holidays, according to the application form.
Stockport council will decide whether to grant planning permission for the scheme.
