THE chairman of a planning sub-committee says its decision to support plans to replace a supermarket in Pocklington with retirement apartments was the right one.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s western area sub-committee recently deferred McCarthy and Stone’s plans for 34 retirement apartments for the completion of a Section 106 agreement. This was to secure a financial contribution towards affordable provision of £85,000 and a commuted sum of £77,792 towards sport and recreation provision in the town.

The apartments would be built on the site of the former Co-op store, in George Street, which closed on March 18.

Councillor David Rudd, chairman of the sub-committee, said: “This has proved to be a controversial decision but the planning committee did agree to defer by five votes to four without need for my casting vote. The application was very well debated and I believe at the end of the day the outcome was the right one.”

He added: “Whilst I appreciate there are local concerns about this application the proposals to introduce retirement accommodation can only enhance the local economy in general and give some local people over 55 years of age the choice if they wish to downsize or for whatever reasons.”