PLANS for a new retail park in Leamington have been withdrawn for a second time.
The proposed four shop unit was earmarked for derelict industrial land off Princes Drive – between the waste recycling centre and the rear of the Homebase store on Myton Road.
Developers Diageo Pension Trust originally put in a planning application in 2018 for land previously used as a lorry depot and employee car park for the former Ford Foundry. The plans for the land, which has been derelict since the plant closed over a decade ago, were later withdrawn.
Warwick District Council was set to consider a resubmitted application for the park – around the size of two football pitches and including a café and 290 car parking spaces – next week, but that has also been withdrawn.
The plans included access from Myton Road, past the current shops, and from another entrance off Princes Drive.
But concerns had been raised over increased traffic on the already busy surrounding roads, with Leamington Shopping Park, Tachbrook Park, four supermarkets, various other shops, and Myton and Warwick schools all nearby.
The latest withdrawn plans had included the promise of a developer contribution of £500,000 towards traffic improvements to Princes Drive.
Other concerns raised included road safety, disturbance to neighbouring homes, the taking away of shoppers from the town centre shops and the impact on air quality.
Developers had said park would create more than 70 new jobs.
The Observer has not yet been able to speak to the developers as to why the plans have again been withdrawn.
