COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT

CWP Property Development & Investment / Gleniffer Estates Limited

Erection of supermarket including car parking, service, access and landscaping

Annan Road, Dumfries

15 December 2011

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BACKGROUND 3

THE PROPOSAL 4

BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSAL 4

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME 5

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSES 7

FEEDBACK AND FURTHER ACTIONS ARISING FROM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME 9

CONCLUSIONS 10

APPENDICES 11

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BACKGROUND

The Planning (Etc) Scotland Act 2006 sets out requirements for community engagement in major and national planning applications. It aims to ensure that communities are engaged in shaping the future of their area. While the application in question does not constitute a major development under the legislation, CWP Property Development & Investment and Gleniffer Estates Limited, as joint applicants (the applicants), appreciate the objectives of the new planning legislation and the importance of involving local communities in development proposals at all stages. Our intention is for this Community Engagement Report to reflect an open, honest and fair dialogue between the applicants, the local community and other stakeholders. This report has been compiled by James Harbison & Company on behalf of the applicants. This report relates specifically to an application for Annan Road, Dumfries.

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THE PROPOSAL

Annan Road, Dumfries CWP Property Development and Investment jointly with their development partner Gleniffer Estates Limited propose to bring supermarket competition and choice to Dumfries with a £20m investment and 300 new local jobs in prospect for the town. The proposal is to develop the current site of Craigsview Caravan and Trailer Centre and adjacent land at Annan Road, Dumfries for a 53,000 sq.ft supermarket with 354 car parking spaces. The size of the proposed store will be large enough to include a full offer of food to help save Dumfries shoppers making unnecessary trips to Carlisle and beyond to do their food shopping. The location offers good links to the surrounding residential areas for pedestrians, cyclists and those using public transport. The plans will also bring the prospect of more than 300 new jobs for local people of all ages. These will be a mixture of full and part-time positions (equivalent to 225 full-time positions). In addition, it is estimated a further 60 construction jobs would be created should plans be approved. CWP Property Development and Investment is an Edinburgh-based retail development specialist and along with their development partner, Glasgow-based Gleniffer Estates Limited, are bringing forward plans for a supermarket on Annan Road, Dumfries The applicants are currently promoting a number of similar developments throughout Scotland and the North of England and both have links with the major supermarket brands. Should the application be approved, the applicants are confident that a new, major supermarket brand will be attracted to Dumfries, bringing additional competition and choice to the town. BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSAL

• Dumfries shoppers – locals and visitors alike – to benefit from a new supermarket – the right size for Dumfries – bringing competition, choice and lower prices to the town.

• Sustainable development – reducing journeys outwith Dumfries.

• Generate turnover for the local economy and help keep shoppers in Dumfries.

• More than 300 new permanent jobs for local people, a mixture of full and part-time positions

with opportunities for career progression.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME

The applicants aim to consult widely with the general public, local residents, businesses and stakeholders who have an interest in the proposal. A series of meetings have been held with Dumfries & Galloway Council officers. On Friday 19

th August

the applicants, with their planning consultant, met the Area Planning Manager and the Policy and Development Control Officer handling the application to discuss planning matters. A further, wider meeting was held on Monday 26

th September attended by Ritchie Grierson for the applicants; Keith

Hargest, Hargest Planning Limited; Paul Welsh, Duco Architects; Alex Sneddon, Transport Planning Limited; Yusuf Kaya, Kaya Consulting. For the Council, the Area Planning Manager, Development Control Officer, a representative from Planning Policy and two Roads officers also attended. The meeting discussed the Council’s requirements for the planning application and also agreed the supporting documents required. The project team identified the following groups as interested parties:

• The general public - local residents, local businesses and visitors to Dumfries • Stakeholders –

o Dumfries & Galloway Council Ward Councillors

o Georgetown Community Council

o Loreburn Community Council

o Torthorwald Community Council

o Dumfries Jobcentre Plus

o Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce

• Elaine Murray MSP, LAB, Dumfrieshire • List MSPs South Scotland

o Claudia Beamish LAB

o Chic Brodie SNP

o Jim Hume LD

o Joan McAlpine SNP

o Aileen McLeod SNP

o Graeme Paterson LAB

o Paul Wheelhouse SNP

• Rt Hon David Mundell MP, CON, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale • Local Media

o Dumfries & Galloway Standard

o Dumfries Courier

o Westsound Radio

o BBC South Scotland

o ITV Borders

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The consultation undertaken to date has included:

• Display advertisement and editorial coverage in the Dumfries & Galloway Standard • Invitation to preview of public exhibition to all stakeholders • Editorial coverage including artists impression of development

• Public Exhibition

Georgetown Community Centre was chosen as the venue for the public exhibition. Its central location within the local community and ease of access made this an ideal venue. In addition to newspaper advertising, posters were displayed outside the venue and circulated locally to inform people of the exhibition and its opening hours.

A preview was held for invited stakeholders between 10am and 11am on Friday 21 October and was well attended by a cross section of local community stakeholders including the media, ward councillors and members of Georgetown Community Council as well as some local businesses invited through the Chamber of Commerce.

The exhibition was then open to the public between 11am and 7pm during which time approximately 175 people visited the exhibition.

The exhibition was staffed by the applicants and members of their planning team to ensure that all questions could be answered directly or respondents’ details taken for subsequent follow-up.

Exhibition panels included details of the proposal, an architect’s drawing of the proposal in situ and a location/site plan to enable members of the public to identify the site and show the proposed plans in context.

An information leaflet which reflected the exhibition boards and a comment card were available at the exhibition with sufficient supplies to allow visitors to take quantities away for friends and neighbours to consider and respond to. Contact addresses, telephone and email details for the project team were publicised on the information leaflet.

To date 97 comment cards have been returned.

A journalist and photographer from the Dumfries & Galloway Standard attended and interviewed and took photographs of visitors. BBC South Scotland also attended and interviewed a spokesman for the applicants and exhibition visitors.

Feedback on the exhibition was briefed to the Dumfries & Galloway Standard. A geography teacher from Dumfries Academy attended and took a supply of leaflets and questionnaires for his Higher Geography class to consider as a planning project.

At the preview event Georgetown Community Council requested a further briefing on these plans by inviting representatives of the planning team to speak at a subsequent community council meeting held on Thursday 24

th November. Mr Grierson for the applicants and Mr

Harbison as part of the planning team presented details of the proposals to the community council and also answered questions arising. In addition, feedback was provided from the consultation event giving headline details of results from the questionnaire. Georgetown Community Council is broadly supportive of the principle of bringing competition, choice and a significant number of potential jobs to the local area but will be submitting its own response to council planners as a statutory consultee.

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OVERVIEW OF RESPONSES

To date, 97 questionnaire responses have been received. Feedback from exhibition attendees has been analysed and summarised in this report at Appendix 6. Original copies of all 97 responses are available for inspection on request.

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9

FEEDBACK AND FURTHER ACTIONS ARISING FROM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

PROGRAMME

Public Exhibition: Although not a matter for planning, the overwhelming issue which commanded most interest and comment on the day was which supermarket operator was behind the plans? The applicants explained there was no named operator at this stage although should the plans be approved it was likely that any of the major UK supermarket brands – not already in Dumfries - could be the potential operator. Secondary issues arising from the public exhibition were: a) impact on town centre traders b) bus service access

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CONCLUSIONS

This document is submitted to demonstrate that the community of Dumfries has been widely consulted and their views taken into account and given due consideration. The consultation was well planned and publicised and the contact has been open and two-way. The community has been given a number of opportunities to contribute to the process and take an active part in developing the proposal. Feedback has been given and the community kept informed about development of the plans. The majority (72%) of those consulted are in favour of these plans because they would bring welcome competition and choice for food shopping locally. Furthermore, the applicants’ commitment to bringing a major supermarket name – new to Dumfries – was considered a welcome addition to the existing shopping provision and would attract new shoppers into Dumfries for their main food shop. The provision of more than 300 jobs was widely welcomed. These would be a mixture of full and part-time, permanent positions for local people. In addition, it is estimated a further 60 construction jobs would be created by the project. Our findings also indicate some leakage of food shoppers who undertake their weekly shop outwith Dumfries, traveling to Carlisle (66 miles round trip) and further afield, principally for supermarket brands, such as ASDA and Sainsbury’s, not available in Dumfries.

The applicants are committed to continue with the consultation process by having an on-going dialogue with the local community.

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APPENDICES

1. Display advertisement publicising exhibition 2. Exhibition posters 3. Exhibition panels 4. Exhibition leaflet 5. Exhibition questionnaire 6. Comments from questionnaire

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Appendix 1

Colour Display Advertisement Dumfries & Galloway Standard, 14

th and 19

th October 2011

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Appendix 2

Exhibition Posters

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Appendix 3

Public Exhibition, Georgetown Community Centre, Dumfries

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Appendix 4

Exhibition Leaflet

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Appendix 5

A4 Exhibition Questionnaire

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Appendix 6

QUESTIONNAIRE COMMENTS

NB: The following is a literal transcript of the handwritten

comments collated on the response forms.

• Yes, if it creates jobs. Dumfries needs help - people

need jobs to earn and spend and if this helps then it

will be good. Turn empty shops in High St into

dwellings.

• Tesco have it all their way

• As long as it is not Tesco

• My only concern is that is another Tesco, there is 3 in

Dumfries already. Please bring another supermarket (ie

Sainburys, Asda or M&S Food) would be more

beneficial

• Prefer no more Tesco stores

• A layby opposite at Arnold Clark for car deliveries plus

roundabout access

• Needs traffic control for local residents

• Main objection will be road access, Arnold Clark lorries

stopping on Annan Road to un-load, access to and from

supermarket, bus services required from town centre

• Dumfries has become 'Tesco town'. I visit my elderly

parents in Glasgow fortnightly and would rather do my

shopping in Asda Bearsden than at home. Asda is also

cheaper.

• There is a need for more choice of supermarkets on the

outskirts of Dumfries and in the surrounding small

towns. At the moment there are 3 Tesco's on the

outskirts of Dumfries and no others. Lockerbie and

Annan are also dominated by Tesco

• To give work to more unemployed folks in area.

Competition for supermarkets already in town.

• Give serious consideration to good pedestrian access.

This site is not easily accessed by public transport -

only 1 bus per hour! (to Annan/Carlisle). There is no

quality supermarket within 35 miles but plenty of

"middle to bottom end" supermarkets within 2 miles!!

• A.B.G. Yes to ASDA. Morrison's and Tesco's (3 stores)

prices vary. If myself and my family had the choice we

would have ASDA. With the price of fuel and public

transport it is a luxury to go to Carlisle. I think that

Asda would bring much relief to our pockets in this

horrible recession instead of making things finance

worse.

• I think something other than Tesco is needed,

something that will be very beneficial I think.

• I think it will be very welcomed for the economy for

Dumfries. It will also provide much needed

employment. Competition is healthy! (for Tescos)

• Need competition against Tesco who have 3 outlets in

town

• Dumfries and surrounding towns (Lockerbie, Annan,

Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright) are all dominated by

Tesco's - the community has very little choice -

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especially since Co-op (Somerfield) closed in Lockerbie

- We need a Sainsbury or a Waitrose to uplift shopping

choice in the area

• An Asda would be good for Dumfries. Traffic lights (or

roundabout) would be necessary. Lorries could not be

unloaded at Arnold Clark as they are now.

• It would b good if a different supermarket located

themselves here

• Competition needed - Tesco too dominant!

• Need choice which Waitrose/Sainsbury or Asda would

provide. Definitel not another Tesco. As this is a low

wage area/high unemployment maybe Asda would be

favoured by majority of Dumfries people. Would be

convenient for all the housing on this side of the town.

• Providing it is not a Tesco or Morrison. Waitrose or

Sainsbury preferred.

• Competition is seriously needed in Dumfries to keep

prices down. The town needs investment to provide

jobs both short term and long term

• Yes for a new supermarket - to try and control Tesco's

they have to much off a hold in Dumfries

• No Tesco please, we need more competition. - A few

speciality shops incorporated into the building would be

A good thing also

• It will provide competition with the existing superstores

and enable local residents to do their shopping without

having to travel far

• Hope it is not another 'Tesco'

• I prefer both Asda and Sainsbury to what we have in

Dumfries, so either of these players would be nice. Pity

it can't be nearer the town centre, but there is no room

• But only if it is a company NOT already in Dumfries

such as Sainsburys or Waitrose

• Any development offering permanent full and part-time

jobs is welcome

• Close to Georgetown housing estate

• Improved choice within the locality is healthy. Job

prospects are to be encouraged.

• More competition for Tesco must a good thing although

unfortunately the development is on the edge of town

and won't help the rejuvenation of the centre of

Dumfries. Just hope that there is enough of a

population to support it.

• Welcome addition to the town to increase competition

and bring down prices. Will also keep more people in

the town.

• A new supermarket is needed to drive competition and

variety to shoppers in the area. At present a number of

people travel to Asda in Carlisle to do their food

shopping

• Ensure ease of access (often a point of contention

regarding other supermarkets in town). Note: Arnold

Clark regularly have car transporters parked directly in

front (near your proposed entry). This may be

something to investigate further.

• Mixed views - don't think another supemarket is really

needed. However my concern is impact on residents

and traffic flow both in terms of speed and quantity.

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Also opening hours. No 24hrs! Again in terms of traffic

and noise.

• Depends on the supermarket involved as we are

already over subscribed with Tesco stores

• With 2.5 Tesco retail outlets and Morrisons, plus Lidl

and Aldi, I am not entirely convinced that Dumfries

needs yet another out of town supermarket. Possibly

improvements to local infrastructure, road access, site

drainage etc. might allow me to become positively

decided.

• Not convinced we need another supermarket. Think the

traffic might be more of a problem than is considered

likely by the 'experts'

• The High Street need more done to it. Road round

about or traffic lights needed. Car transporter drops

cars off on main road

• Only if it is a new operator

• Disappointed that this is a further risk to Dumfries town

centre footfall. Please consider town centre/edge of

town locations that will support the regeneration of a

valuable town centre

• When the Tesco store opened in Dumfries - 248 jobs

were lost in the first year of Tesco opening and within

two years 24 shops closed in the town centre. This

store proposal will take over £200,000 pounds out of

the town centre and lead to job losses and more shop

closures.

• Although I agree with competition, with 3 Tescos

already in and around town, I do not think we need

another supermarket.

• I'm sorry but Dumfries does not need another

supermarket. The site is totally unsuitable for such a

development especially from the traffic flow already

using the main road into Dumfries from the south

• Vacant sites in town centre. TJ Hughes would make a

good convenience store. Then with M&S and

Iceland/FarmFoods we would have choice in the town

centre.

• Totally impossible site taking into account most of

customers will come from Georgetown. Traffic will have

to use 2 railway bridges both NARROW controlled by

lights. Also, enormous use by hospital traffic - go to

other side of town. (Build new bridges o/er railway

first)

• Not needed

• There are enough stores in Dumfries. We could not

support shops in town centre and this will basically be

the death of dumfries town centre and also discourage

tourists coming to Dumfries

• 1. Do not need another supermarket in or around

Dumfries. 2. Traffic on Annan Road needs to be looked

at before any planned building is proposed.

• There are enough large supermarkets in Dumfries. The

last tesco built at the peel centre was too much. You

have to allow the smaller stores like spar co-op a cut of

the market. There should not be 3 tesco here. One of

the tesco should change.

• Don't see why we need another shop this side of town.

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Bus services are no use to people in north west

Dumfries especially pensioners. We don't all have cars.

• It is difficult enough at the moment to drive on to the

Annan Road from our house and this development will

make matters much worse, especially as we already

have 4 supermarkets in the area.

• As we stay off the Annan Road almost opposite the

proposed new entrance and it is difficult at the moment

to access the Annan Road by car this will just make it

even more difficult. Land drainage will also be a big

problem with ground on opposite side of the road.

• This town doesn't require another supermarket

• Definitely NOT. We do NOT need another supermarket.

There is far too much 'out of town' shopping already -

Dumfries centre is terrible now with few quality shops.

A supermarket in the Annan Rd would increase traffic

on an already busy road. Any jobs created will be at

the expense of other shops closing.

• There's already enough "out of town"

shopping/supermarkets, Dumfries town centre is a

ghost town almost as it is.

• I do all my grocery shopping online and the choice in

dumfries is currently Tesco or Asda (who have a longer

lead time). Whilst Tesco's service is very good, I resent

their ruthless drive towards market domination and

would welcome competition.

• I would welcome competition for these stores.

• I only shop in Tesco as get staff discount but

sometimes drive to Carlisle and go to Asda as still

works out cheaper although Tesco give me 10% off.

• Not another Tesco. Would like to see Asda.

• New superstore to bring down prices. Increased

competition will also drive petrol prices down.

• Build an Asda please

• Need a new store to give more variety for shopping

other than Tesco or Morrisons!

• We have a few supermarket stores. I feel TESCO has

taken over the universe and we really need somewhere

to shop for the WORKING CLASS FAMILIES

• ASDA!

• I would like to see a new Adsa which is closer to us

than Carlisle

• Asda or Sainsbury's most welcome

• Would like either Asda or Sainburys in the town

• Previously we lived in Glasgow and shopped at

Sainbury’s which we really enjoyed, we have on

occasion driven back to Glasgow or to Strathaven to do

our main food shopping and feel it would save much

time and diesel shopping closer to home!!

• In the current climate of increasing food prices,

competition is required

• I think Tescos needs some competition within the town

and would welcome a Sainsburys store. I think this is

an ideal site which will be easily accessible

• Would like to have a Sainsburys – not one in area –

family in Wigtownshire – have good comments re one

in Newton Stewart – good value, choice and

competitive prices

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• Tesco need competition. All neighbouring towns have

Tesco so there’s little choice for shoppers (Lockerbie,

Annan & Castle Douglas) Dumfries & Galloway is a

“Tesco” region and this should offer better choice.

___________________________________________________________________________ JAMES HARBISON & COMPANY

One St Colme Street, Edinburgh EH3 6AA T: 0131 220 8338 M: 07836 665236

E: jh@jamesharbison.co.uk