Iceland in Cromer faces prosecution for failing to change its shop front.

Iceland prepares appeal over Cromer shop after North Norfolk District Council’s latest planning snub

Lucy Clapham
Thursday, February 2, 2012
11:18 AM

Frozen food giant Iceland is mounting an appeal after its plans to alter the front of its Cromer store were thrown out again.

The supermarket chain has confirmed it is preparing to fight back against North Norfolk District Council’s (NNDC) decision to reject a revised scheme for the town centre store.

This will be the second time the firm has appealed against a snub from planning bosses in the long-running row over the shop’s “flat and featureless” appearance.

Previous plans submitted by Iceland in 2009 for its existing store front were refused by the council, and members’ decision was upheld at a subsequent appeal by a planning inspector.

Since then it has put forward more proposals, which have been refused each time, the latest of which was thrown out in November after it was slammed as “feeble”.

The council has argued the Church Street store does not fit within the town’s conservation area and is pursuing a prosecution against Iceland over the fascia row.

Despite this Iceland has vowed to fight on to resolve the saga.

A spokesman said: “Following the rejection of our revised proposal which was submitted in November, we can confirm that an appeal against that rejection is being prepared.”Keith Johnson, portfolio holder for planning at NNDC, said the authority had not yet formally received the appeal but recognised the “due process” of dealing with it will soon begin.

He added: “We note with interest an appeal is now coming forward from Iceland, which will obviously be heard by an independent inspector.

“We will recognise the decision of the inspector.”

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13 comments

Thats the answer Cllr Johnson gives.It's not an answer at all. If it is there it's well hidden. What we are asking for is a clear statement of why the front of Iceland needs changing when the similar fronts of BetFred & Boots dont ?

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Paul Radbourne

Friday, February 3, 2012
It has been reported to the nndc councillors and that is public on their website

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beachstar

Friday, February 3, 2012
Beachstar; NNDC have not troubled to tell the general public why they object to the frontage,just that they do, despite us being council tax payers one & all. I ask again, what do they specifically object to?

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Paul Radbourne

Friday, February 3, 2012
NNDC bashing only on this post. Balanced view not allowed.

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beachstar

Friday, February 3, 2012
i agree with gramjan&mrmajika boots is no oil painting among others if you stand at the lights and look opposite what do we see there then walk down the street and look opposite the garden streetchurch street junction, what is keeping within a conservation area about these shops?? they should save this money and spend it on looking at thier repair bill for the eyesore on top of the hill !!!!

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stephen watson

Friday, February 3, 2012
Don't be daft. Most of them weren't even properly elected. Thats why we get daft schemes like the clothing bag & ignored on issues like this. No worse than the front of Boots which is a very similar design.

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Mr Majika

Friday, February 3, 2012
Perhaps Cllr Johnson who has written to every local paper on this actually explain why they object to the frontage of Iceland.Or is it too much for a constituent to expect a councillor to be answerable?

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Paul Radbourne

Thursday, February 2, 2012
"Flat and featureless" should fit in with Cromer perfectly. Only joking but I think the council could spend time and money on more useful things than hounding Iceland.

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a_chilly_seal

Thursday, February 2, 2012
We must all remember that Nigel Burrows (BA MRTPI) the planning inspector at the appeals (Sept 2010) found ....'the (new) shopfront detracts from the character and appearance of this building, which still retains something of its original 1930’s Art Deco style and neo-Georgian detailing'. It is so obvious when an expert tells us all isn't it? I hope the EDP doesn't mind me repeating my earlier post on this subject.

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popeye

Thursday, February 2, 2012
If you actually look at Iceland's store front, it doesn't match any other store fronts. Does NNDC give any guidance for businesses on 'store front design' like other councils across the country? I would ask the question, though, at their reasons why they do not like the store front but appear to love the hideous North Norfolk Information Centre?

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Ben

Thursday, February 2, 2012
I honestly cannot see that Iceland looks any worse than shops like Boots and the others just across the road. I think NNDC just have it is for Iceland for some reason. I don't even shop at Iceland but I do feel they are being treated unfairly.

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samphirelover

Thursday, February 2, 2012
what on earth is the council doing apart from being bloody minded ,the frontage on icelands store is 100% better than when it was Woolworths,it is also better than most of the other shops in cromer,some of which are hideously ugly and lack any character let alone in keeping with surrounds. Are the council trying to force Iceland OUT and make Cromer derelict of good shops and businesses?.Come on people lets get some sense brought into this situation or other potential businesses will be put off by this negative attitude of the council.

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gramjan

Thursday, February 2, 2012
So will North Norfolk district council use the tax payers money in a pointless exercise fighting this multinational company and its barristerslawyers in the courts and consuming vast amounts of money? This looks like it will be another Tesco type saga with councilors who feel they have been snubbed, committing our money and pouring it down the drain. come on wise up, the town is littered with run down shops and non standard frontages, give in or you will chase another national company out of Cromer to make way for another charity shop

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Farquarson-Smythe

Thursday, February 2, 2012