COUNCILLORS this morning voted overwhelmingly in favour of granting permission for a new supermarket in Ulverston.

The plans for a supermarket on Brewery Street was given approval by South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee - nearly two years after it was first backed.

SLDC granted Frederic Robinson permission to build the supermarket but the decision was quashed last year by a judge following a legal challenge by campaign group Keep Ulverston Special.
 
That deemed the original approval undetermined and an amended report, with focus on the potential impact the supermarket would have on the conservation area, was debated upon this morning.

The meeting heard the plans also include an underground car park for 90 cars and refurbishment of the Bird in Hand and Union pubs.

One public speaker said the affect on local retailers would be 'uniformly negative' while another said: 'For the profit of one development the life of this vibrant town will be ruined.'

Mike Gibson, on behalf of applicant, said: 'The scheme is fully costed, commercially viable and deliverable.'

Planning officer Kate Lawson added: 'We consider it to support the town centre by generating additional footfall and would enable the re-use of a vacant site.'

The committee voted 14-1 in favour of approval.