AN amended planning application for a new foodstore at Wentworth Street car park, in Malton, has been submitted by developer GMI Holbeck Land Ltd.

The revised scheme, which comes 18 months after Ryedale district councillors were “minded to grant” planning permission for the store, includes plans for an enhanced walkway to Malton Market Place, three hours’ free parking and a public piazza for community events.

Last year, a Government planning inspector ruled that the council should reconsider the approval of plans to develop the car park and that proposals for Malton livestock market by the Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate should be allowed.

The developers have said their new plans are supported by an updated Retail Impact Assessment, prepared by planning consultants NLP, which includes details from the Ryedale Local Plan and the possible redevelopment of the livestock market.

They say that more than £31m worth of foodstore expenditure is spent outside of Malton and Ryedale annually, with a high proportion of local shoppers travelling to York and Scarborough to do their weekly shopping.

Ian Barraclough, of GMI Holbeck Land, said: “As Malton and Norton prepare for the future, local shopping is faced with increasing competition from committed plans to construct additional retail development at Monks Cross, in York, Beverley and Scarborough.

“The new John Lewis and M&S stores at nearby Monks Cross mean that Malton needs a stronger shopping offer to retain shoppers and attract more visitors.

“It would benefit Malton and Norton to attract shoppers from all over Ryedale, and if the town could offer improved food shopping facilities, as well as the option to buy cheaper petrol, it would certainly achieve this.

Otherwise, shoppers from the new housing developments will also be drawn to Scarborough and York, representing a missed opportunity for Malton and Norton.

“The development will deliver a strong connection to Wheelgate and Market Place, with shoppers at the store and visitors to the town centre being offered three hours’ free parking in the family-friendly, lower level extended car park.

“The foodstore will ease the trading and traffic pressure of the existing Morrisons store, as well as providing much-needed competition and choice for weekly food shopping and fill-up of fuel.

“The development of a new petrol filling station with extended opening hours is seen as a major plus by the majority of responses from the community to the consultation.”

Councillor David Lloyd-Williams, chairman of the Malton and Norton Area Partnership and a member of both town councils, said he could see very little difference in the application.

“The area partnership has been opposed to it most positively from the start,” he said.

“This is an edge-of-town store which is selling lots of things that are already sold at shops in Malton and will be damaging for the town centre.

“When the district council was minded to approve the original application, they said the area could only support one more supermarket and therefore refused the livestock application.

“The livestock decision has now been overturned on appeal and the Wentworth decision declared unlawful, so what now is different to what was then – the same agenda should apply.”

For more information visit www.thewentworthproject.com