Planners recommended to refuse Firepool planning application

The scheme for a cinema, a supermarket, shops, waterfront bars and restaurants, homes and shoppers' parking at Taunton's Firepool were deemed unacceptable in a report to planners.

Officers are recommending tonight's planning committee meeting of Taunton Deane Borough Council refusing the project on the former livestock market on economic, social and environmental grounds.

Their report to the committee says the development would create hundreds of jobs and increase retail turnover in the town by more than £21 million.

But it adds: "This needs to be tempered somewhat by the potential diversion of trade from the primary shopping area and the risk of the development acting in competition as a separate retail destination that does not encourage linked trips between the site and existing retail areas."

It goes on to criticise the "poor" overall design, claiming that the car park "results in a lack of sense of place and local distinctiveness".

The officers admit that flooding issues have been addressed, adding: "It is clear that there would be an enhancement of the built environment compared to its current state as a vacant site, but...the built environment would not be of the high quality that an important and high profile site such as this deserves."

But Pete Davies, senior development manager at the council's development partner St Modwen, has told the County Gazette before the meeting that he is still hopeful councillors would vote the application through.

Mr Davies, who believes the development could be completed by 2019, said: "Firepool is a vital link in the chain of Taunton’s wider regeneration plans, with the potential to create in excess of 1,700 jobs and a comprehensive mix of uses including offices, hotel, residential development, cafes/bar-restaurants on the waterfront, cinema, supermarket and high quality shopping.

"Construction is already underway on the south side of the river, where 49 new riverside dwellings, comprising 45 apartments and four four-bedroom family homes are set to complete in the next few weeks.

Peter Davies, of St Modwen.

“Despite the recommendation for refusal by the planning officer we are still very hopeful for a positive outcome in the outline planning decision tabled for the council’s planning committee.

"It will enable us to continue work alongside our development partner, Taunton Deane Borough Council, to provide one of the largest mixed-use schemes in the South West and the exciting regeneration of this key site at the heart of Taunton’s town centre."