COUNCILLORS in Northumberland have gone against the recommendation of planning officers and voted to refuse permission for a new Co-op store.

The proposals would have seen the new store built on the former mart site in Bellingham, next to a controversial housing development granted planning permission in 2022. The plans were initially submitted in 2021, and have been subject to several changes after consultation with council planners.

But members of the Tynedale Local Area Planning Committee voted on Tuesday (July 9) to refuse permission. There were concerns about the design of the building as well as its scale compared to the rest of the village.

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While there were just three objections from the public, Bellingham Parish Council had also raised an objection which warned that there was a “significant strength of feeling locally” about the application. Furthermore, “numerous” residents attended a recent parish council meeting to express concerns.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, Cllr Ian Hutchinson said: “I’m totally disappointed actually, I thought this would be no problem – but seeing the images, it looks terrible.

“The height and design isn’t in keeping with anything. There are no windows – it looks more like a shed than a convenience store.”

Cllr Alan Sharp added: “There’s clearly an issue with height which I’m not happy about. There is an existing Co-op in the village around 200 yards away.

“We want to see a much-improved scheme here, we want a building that is much more in fitting with the location.”

However, Cllr Gordon Stewart had proposed approving the plans. He said: “Officers have recommended this for approval and officers have made comments throughout.

“I’m conscious of many issues being raised, but I note there has only been three objections.”

Cllr Nick Oliver added: “I think the danger of what we’re about to do is we lose an important retail facility that would make Bellingham more sustainable.

“It is difficult to design a shop that looks good. There has to be some compromise – I’m assuming that the height is about the retail offer they want to make to the people of Bellingham and having adequate space.”

But Cllr Stewart’s motion was voted down by six votes to two, with one abstention.

Bellingham ward councillor John Riddle then proposed refusal.

He said: “The application that we had in front of us can be improved. Planning officers have gone as far as they can.

“These things come to members because they’re finely balanced decisions. The fact that we’re disagreeing with officers’ recommendations is not unusual.

“I don’t want a building that is too high and not pleasant to look at. I hope this is a way to send a message to the developer that we want something a little bit better.”

The motion to refuse permission was voted through by six votes to two, with one abstention.