Arcade is back as one councillor says losing the £90 million shopping centre would be ‘disastrous’

Developer Wilson Bowden’s vision for the £90 million 21,500 sqm Clarendon Arcade on Chandos Street was rejected by Warwick District Council’s planning committee last month and faced strong opposition from many people who live in the town.

But a report by the council’s deputy chief executive has made it clear that the council’s intention is to go ahead with a retail-led development scheme at the same site, whether it takes the form of the rejected shopping centre or another design.

In his report, which was fully supported by the council’s executive committee on Wednesday, Bill Hunt said: “Studies commissioned by the council show that for Leamington town centre to remain vital and vibrant into the future, further retail development is necessary.

“The Chandos Street site is the only realistic and suitable site for a viable and comprehensive town centre retail-led development.”

Pointing out that the planning committee, in rejecting the Clarendon Arcade project, did not cite a lack of need for more shops in the town centre, he said: “Public criticism of the Clarendon Arcade scheme tended to focus on a perceived lack of ‘need’, with empty retail units within the centre.

“People also criticised the potential negative impact the scheme would have on the specialist, small, largely independent retailers for which the town centre is noted. While no doubt well-intentioned, such perceptions are not supported by commercial realities.”

Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting Cllr Moira-Ann Grainger (Con, Warwick North), said: “Most of the public get very irate and anti-change to a certain extent. People don’t realise that one of the biggest problems we have in Leamington is that we don’t have any big units. They would bring people in to use and enjoy our independent shops.”

Representing the labour group, Cllr John Barrott (Leamington Willes), added: “We need to try to explain to the public at large the reasons for the retail development and why there is a need for retail development.”

Mr Hunt’s report also pointed out that the council had agreed that it can use its ‘compulsory purchase order’ powers to use the Chandos Street site if the Clarendon Arcade project was approved, adding: “Given the continuing rationale for a retail-led development scheme within Leamington town centre, to further its economic, social and environmental well-being, the rationale for the potential use of these powers also remains.”

Council officials are now continuing to work with Wilson Bowden on a revised scheme and plan to employ a temporary member of staff to co-ordinate putting together a fresh application.

Cllr Michael Coker (Con, Kenilworth Abbey) said: “We are very fortunate that we have found somebody who wishes to develop the town. To lose that would be a disaster.”

More than 100 people wrote to the district council to object to the project, which had been in development since 2007.