Thaxters of Holt, where the new supermarket will be built. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Holt supermarket plan is approved by councillors

Sophie Wyllie Thursday, March 21, 2013
2:32 PM

An out of town supermarket plan for Holt was given the green light today (Thursday) despite concerns the development could take trade away from the town centre.

Members of North Norfolk District Council development committee approved the Norwood Homes application for the Thaxters DIY and timber yard site on Old Station Way, just off the town’s bypass.

It is not known which supermarket will set up business in the town but it will have a net sales area of about 10,000sq ft; include a 90-space car park and create about 100 jobs.

Benefits to the town would be provided through a Section 106 agreement and would include signs to the town centre and additional art work for the pedestrian underpass from the store to the town centre, which would also be cleaned up.

A new hopper bus service from the shop to the town centre could also be started up.

Holt Chamber of Trade chairman Ian Furniss said: “This is all about impact and a new supermarket will dramatically change our High Street.”

He warned Holt traders could lose up to £3.9m in sales each year if the supermarket was built.

John Perry-Warnes, ward councillor for Corpusty, said: “This will help the parking in Holt tremendously, It will also help with employment. I will be supporting it all the way.”

For the full story read tomorrow’s EDP.

15 comments

Douglas - have you actually seen the plans that have been put forward for the supermarket? I understand they are based on the previous M & G N railway station that used to be on the site. And whatever it is it will not affect the High Street as the supermarket will be close enough to allow visitors to enjoy the town centre and far enough away to keep its design separate.

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Ray Moore

Friday, March 22, 2013
Sincerely hoping for an ALDI, just what Holt needs!

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windup

Friday, March 22, 2013
remember mike bakers comments he likes holt because it keeps out the riff raff ? what now if they get an asda ?

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Double Bill

Friday, March 22, 2013
As I said before whatever your opinion, you cannot deny a supermarket in a small town will change it - for the better or worse is an open question. However I have to agree with D. McCoy, the architecture in Holt is a asset, you only have to see the huge number of visitors who come there. I would add that if we look around all our town centres and even house building there is a lot of brutalism, rank bad design, especially from the 60s and 70s. Let's not make the same mistakes again. But to balance the argument I have to admit Holt is not a place where I'd like to do my everyday shopping. Let's hope we can get the balance right .

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weaversway

Friday, March 22, 2013
asda aldi or lidl please :) as these will benefit the least well of the most....

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MrB

Friday, March 22, 2013
Good to see John Perry Warnes still upsetting those Tory voters. Keep it up John!

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omnishambles

Friday, March 22, 2013
Holt has a "supermarket" already, so what is the problem with giving Mr Bakr some healthy competition?!?

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PSA

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Perhaps I'm alone in appreciating the magnificent architecture which characterises Holt High Street. The buildings which were altered unsympathetically to allow modern and unsympathetic development appear to have been done in the sixties or late seventies. The Holt we see today manages to retain much of the charm which still draws both locals and visitors from far and wide. However, whilst some shops are less than satisfactory compared to other towns in Norfolk Holt still remains in my view, a gem. If others find it unattractive and unable to suit there shopping needs the question needs to be asked why bother shopping there at all? If the premise is that allowing unsympathetic development to ruin the character of Holt in the name of progress is worth it then I'm sorry but I can't agree it's a price worth paying!

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Douglas McCoy

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Well Betty Swallocks all I can say is you must buy an awful lot of shopping if it would cost £3.9m even at Bakers & Larners. This is such bad news for the small independent food related type businesses in Holt, such a comment is facetious, thoughtless and trite. Betty, do you know anything about the cost of rents in Holt? Or the footfall in the the first three months of the year? Do you realise the commitment of the small retailers in the town who forego all the Bank Holidays that you and I enjoy with our families? Are you aware of the stresses of owning a small business? I hope that Holt can out do the drain of a new out of town supermarket by offering a special shopping experience in town with personal service and different goods to the normal High Street. Lets all support our local independent retailers!

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catkin

Thursday, March 21, 2013
I hope Holt is not going to end up like North Walsham! Before Sainsburys opened their store there the town itself was a hive of activitiy with a range of different shops, as was the precinct. Once again, the supermarkets took hold and with their often cheaper goods, members of the public - understandably - moved their custom to them, leaving the rest of town like the Marie Celeste. Really hope Holt doesn't go the same way!

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Boadicea 1959

Thursday, March 21, 2013
To Doug McCoy. There is nothing special about Holt High Street that a supermarket is going to spoil. Supermarkets don't sell antiques, secondhand goods or gaudy giftware which is made in Taiwan or China. Apart from a couple of fruitveg shops and a small bakery I can't think of anything special in Holt. Oh, the 4 charity shops! I had coffee in a Sheringham cafe a few weeks ago and the owner was moaning about Tesco coming. I pointed out that he would get a lot more footfall as he was not far from Tesco but he was having none of it. There were 2 of us and just one other customer in there at the time (late morning). The cafe was shabby and really needed a good clean and update although the coffee was OK. Shopkeepers in Sheringham are moaning even before Tesco arrive and are doing nothing to up their game at all. Holt is much the same. I've tried Waitrose at North Walsham and wasn't impressed and the Sainsury's at Sheringham is dire. They have never got what I want and it is SO expensive.

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samphirelover

Thursday, March 21, 2013
That it will change Holt is obvious, everywhere a supermarket sets up in a small town it is never the same. Only time will tell if the results are good or bad. The problem comes that if those giving permission get it wrong the damage cannot be reversed

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weaversway

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Hopefully the High Street traders will start being a bit more competitive. £3.9m is the approximate cost of an average weekly shop and Bakers and Larners!

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Betty Swallocks

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Only time will tell if Samphirelover is correct in hisher assertion that this new supermarket will be of any benefit to Holt. I share the concerns of the Holt Chamber of Trade that this may cause irreversible damage to Holt High Street. Again though, only time will tell? However, I am amused that anyone would prefer Lidl or The Co-op to Waitrose or Sainsbury's. In the grand scheme of things Tesco certainly is no worse than the former two and in my opinion an awful lot better!

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Douglas McCoy

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Great news. Just what Holt needs. The parking spaces alone will be a great boost for Holt and some more jobs - can't be bad! We know for sure Tesco is not coming (Mr Thaxter was on radio earlier today confirming this) so I hope it's a Lidl or Co-Op. Definitely don't want a Waitrose or Sainsbury's.

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samphirelover

Thursday, March 21, 2013