New Marks & Spencer food hall to be debated again

Controversial proposals for a £10m Marks and Spencer food hall on the Issa brothers' Frontier Park were set to be debated again after they were dealt a blow by the High Court.

The legal block meant the planning process for the retailer's new outlet, to replace their existing store in Blackburn town centre, had to be rerun from the start.

Now a revised application from Monte Blackburn, the property arm of Mohsin and Zuber Issa's business empire, which owns Frontier Park just across the border between Blackburn and Rishton, is back before Hyndburn Council's planning committee.

A new planning officer's report to be put to the meeting later will urge the councillors once again to refuse it.

In April, planning permission was granted for the outlet near the M65 after an officer's recommendation to reject it was rejected.

Approval was given despite a last-ditch attempt by Blackburn with Darwen Council to offer land at the cleared Thwaites Brewery site, originally earmarked for a new Morrisons supermarket, as an alternative.

Later, Tesco launched a judicial review of the decision, which Hyndburn Council opted not to contest.

This resulted in the planning permission being quashed by the High Court.

Monte and M&S have submitted new evidence to Hyndburn Council addressing the High Court decision and urging approval for the proposal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

M&S bosses made clear this week that they would not renew the lease for their existing 1980s all-purpose store in Blackburn town centre's King William Street when it expires in September 2027, regardless of the final Hyndburn decision.

The planning officer's report said: "The council considers that there are preferable sites which are available, suitable and viable."

Tesco has submitted a new objection to approval on grounds including the proposed M&S store's impact on Blackburn and other nearby town centres.

The council also submitted a new objection, which said the new application "unfortunately does not overcome the concerns which have previously been raised".

An M&S spokeswoman said: "We're investing in our stores to bring customers modern spaces where they want to shop, and our proposed location is the best option in Blackburn.

"As the current store cannot offer the customer experience we strive for, we will not have a store in Blackburn if our plans are refused."

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