Marks and Spencer Jobs – New Store at Cyfarthfa Retail Park

Planning disagreements risk retail development

Worries are increasing over the risk of Marks and Spencer pulling out of a plan to open a new store at Cyfarthfa Retail Park in 2012 because Welsh highway officials and the retail development agency cannot reach agreement over the need for an improvement to a roundabout leading up to the site.

The architect firm behind the planning application do not accept that the upgrade, which would cost in the region of £4.5 million, is necessary and has expressed a preference for a new traffic lights system.  However, the Welsh government has stated that the improvements would be the best option to manage the expected increase in shoppers, even though this would mean moving the region’s underground water supply.

Local councillors are now concerned that the disagreement will cost the area a chance to obtain a much-needed boost to the area’s economy and are urging the government to look at alternatives for the sake of economic development.

The architect firm has emphasised that Marks and Spencer’s plans would involve hundreds of jobs during the construction of the site and around 250 jobs in the retail park when the store is completed.  However, the government has indicated that it must ensure the safety of road users and that the proposed traffic lights system does not meet national standards.  It emphasised that negotiations are ongoing.

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