Newark again objects to £125m shopping village near Grantham

Councillors have voted to sustain their previous objections to a £125m shopping village near Grantham over fears it could significantly impact Newark town centre.

The plans for the Downtown development include 107 designer outlet stores, 2,000 parking spaces, offices, and leisure provision — likely to be indoor play areas.

The application was unanimously approved by South Kesteven District Council last year, despite strong objection from Newark Town Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

It came before the town council’s planning committee again due to small changes in the site’s boundary treatment. Members objected again on the basis of the impact it would potentially have on shops in Newark.

Member Lisa Geary said it would also encourage more car use.

Jane Olson said: “Is it relevant today? Is it going to be used as much as the developers envisage if we’re doing more online shopping? It’s not just Newark town centre, what about Grantham town centre?”

Irene Brown said she liked the fact shoppers would be able to find everything in one place.

“I would like to see it happen,” she said. “We’ve got individual shops in the town but you have to go to one shop for this and one shop for that.”

South Kesteven will make the final decision.