Proposals for a Large Co-op in Penyffordd could help to deal with influx of new residents

Plans to build a large new Co-op store in a Flintshire village could help it to deal with an influx of new residents, it has been claimed.

The national chain is currently preparing an application to build a 4,000 sq ft community store in Penyffordd.

Local representatives have recently met with the company to discuss their proposals for a site between the Millstone pub and the Millstone playground.

The new store would create five full time and 17 part-time jobs.

Community councillor Alan Wight believes it could also help to handle the expected increase in the village’s population.

It comes as new housing developments are anticipated to see the number of residents grow to around 5,000 in the next five years.

Mr Wight said: “When we opposed the various housing developments in our community, including Redrow, we argued that our facilities could not cope with more people.

“We will have nearer to 5,000 residents in five years time.

“That is around the size of settlement that retailers such as Aldi would consider viable and usually when there is already retailers there.

“The Spar and Co-op can survive side by side.

“That doesn’t mean an open door for more development, it is merely bringing facilities in line with the needs of the community today and in the near future.”

A straw poll of villagers carried out by the community council found that 87 people were in favour of the store with five against.

Meanwhile, 48 said they supported the development, but felt it was in the wrong place.

Mr Wight said he supported the proposals in general and his only reservations were around traffic management.

He said: “From a social perspective this is a good location.

“It will be a loss of green space in the village, but it is not public space, it is up to the landowner what they do with it within planning constraints.”

The front of the store would be accessed via Hawarden Road and the Co-op said it had been designed to fit in with other nearby buildings.

The plans include 14 car parking spaces on the site with vehicle deliveries being made to the rear of the shop.

The application is expected to be made to Flintshire Council in early 2019 and, if successful, it could open by the end of the year.

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here).