WEYMOUTH town councillors have called on Dorset Council to consider public transport options ahead of plans to build a new out of town Marks and Spencer superstore.
A planning application has been submitted for a Marks and Spencer superstore at Weymouth Gateway Retail Park, which is already home to Aldi, B&M, Costa, McDonald's and Dunelm.
The plans would see a new building measuring 3,886 square metres built on Weymouth Gateway Retail Park.
Weymouth councillors raised concerns about the lack of transport options for Weymouth and Portland residents to access the site, which is quickly growing into a large retail location in the area.
At a meeting of Weymouth Town Council's planning and licensing committee, councillors asked if public transport options should have been considered as part of the planning application for the new superstore.
Cllr Lucy Hamilton said: “I don’t object but we would like to see some transport scheme linked with this.
“Transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of development."
Cllr Luke Wakeling added: “Transport was my main concern. Imagine if someone lives on Portland. They are going to need a bus to King’s Statue and then another bus to the retail park.
"We have Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, B&M, Dunelm and now Marks and Spencer, it is going to be a core place for people to shop.
“Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 households in Weymouth is carless. We need to think about transport for sure."
The earmarked site for the M&S store would replace a smaller unit which already has planning consent. If this new application is successful, it will be a home to a new and expanded M&S – and will create around 45 additional jobs.
The planning application also includes 234 additional parking spaces including extra EV charging points and covered cycle racks, and associated infrastructure and landscaping.
If the application is approved the retail giant would leave its current premises on St Mary Street in the town centre.
The committee agreed to add a comment to the plans for consideration by Dorset Council, which will decide whether the application is approved.
The comment submitted by the committee for Dorset Council wrote: “We fully support this proposal but we would like to see further consideration for public transport links for around the town and Portland and active travel.”
The comment made to Dorset Council was supported unanimously by members of the committee.
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