Residents of a huge housing estate built more than a decade ago have been left disappointed after plans for its first convenience store were scrapped.
Baby Sivarajah had wanted to convert part of a redundant office building into a 218 sq m store in Finberry, Ashford.
But plans submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) in February have now been withdrawn, meaning neighbours will have to continue to drive to Park Farm Tesco or walk up to a mile to Bridgefield to buy basic amenities.
Mr Sivarajah had hoped to open Finberry Village Community Store directly opposite Finberry Primary School in Avocet Way.
Selling food and household items, the store would have been based on the ground floor of the three-storey property.
Documents submitted with the plans said the shop would “serve the community by providing a much-needed retail outlet”.
The unit would have been open seven days a week, employing three members of staff.
No reason has been given for the withdrawal of the scheme, which had attracted seven comments in support and three against.
Commenting on the application, supporter Ian Bull said: “The existing residents have no retail facilities within walking distance and no bus service.
“A retail facility on Finberry will benefit residents and contribute to the sustainability of the development.”
But fears had been raised about the site’s proposed location opposite Finberry Primary School, which opened in September 2017 – three years after the first residents moved in.
Rebecca Sell believed the shop’s proximity to the site – which caters for 379 pupils aged two to 11 – would have been dangerous.
She said: “While Finberry desperately needs a store, I’d be concerned as it’s near a school and a pedestrian crossing to a playground.
“Rubbish in that area is already a problem and this will make that worse.”
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Meanwhile, outline planning permission remains in place for a separate new shop in Finberry, alongside 63 homes and other commercial units.
The development – approved by ABC in February last year – is earmarked to go near Bullfinch Avenue at the entrance to the estate, which is made up of about 1,000 homes.
However, work on the store is yet to begin as detailed plans have not been submitted.
Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con) says it is a shame residents will remain without a convenience store.
The representative for Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry ward said: “We’re very short of basic facilities on Finberry, so I’m not surprised people were supportive of it.
“There were parking concerns, but the Church Commissioners – the landowners of Finberry – have been exploring bringing a commercial development between the school and Bullfinch Avenue.
“Outline permission has been given for that and they told me about a month ago they were making progress on the development.
“So I think the people wanting to open the convenience store may have possibly got wind of that.”
Cllr Bartlett says construction of a new Aldi store on nearby Waterbrook Park may have led the applicants to drop the scheme.
“The opening of Aldi is close as they have made a lot of progress there – it’s extraordinary how quickly it’s now being built,” he said.
“So perhaps they’ve looked somewhere else with all that in mind.
“It’s still a waiting game at the moment.”
Work has been underway for several months on the Aldi store, which is due to open later this year.
KentOnline approached those behind Finberry Village Community Store for comment.
