The former COOP site is in the process of being sold to new developers. The site of the former supermarket was originally planned to be over twenty town houses, but had been repossessed by a mortgage company after the previous developers went into administration and defaulted on their mortgage payments.
The site is now in the process of being sold to a care home company with completion of the sale anticipated within a few weeks.
As part of a requirement of the sale of the site, it is required to be what is called, in a state of vacant possession. This will mean that the remaining open parts of the site will soon be fenced off including the carpark to the north side of the River Marden at the bottom of the Pippin.
The upshot of this is that those who have taken advantage of the unrestricted free parking within the town centre, will now have to make alternative arrangements. This is also likely to significantly impact parking for residents in the surrounding streets. The fencing could start being erected within a matter of days and noticed places on cars.
I reserve judgement on a care home is an appropriate development for this location until I have seen the proposed plans but anything that regenerates this site from the current eyesore that this site has been for four years, and which is likely to provide employment for 50 plus people can only be a good thing.
I do plan to speak to the developers to try and ensure that there is some public amenity remaining around the river and the development is moved away from the church similar to the previous plans had proposed. I do also intend to request that they consider re-opening the carpark until closer to the time that development is to commence.