Plan to build Bushey Heath M&S Foodhall suddenly withdrawn

Space for the supermarket to open a foodhall on the ground floor had been included in the planning application for a new development to replace the buildings between number 6 and 18 High Road, Bushey Heath.

However, the proposal appeared to stall after the consultation stage with no updates on the planning portal since January despite a decision originally being expected by December 19 last year.

CGI image showing how the redevelopment would look (Image: : Nacropolis Construction Ltd/Hertsmere Planning Portal/Claridge Architects)

No explanation has been given for the proposal being pulled on Tuesday (August 4) and it is unclear whether any amended plans for the site will be brought forward in future.

The project would have involved the demolition of shops, a house, and a car showroom on the land, for replacement with a modern three-storey mixed-use development.

There would have been two studio apartments, 11 one-bedroom flats, and 12 two-bedroom flats above the retail space.

M&S had confirmed that the ground floor had been designed with the business in mind as the “long-term” operator once it was complete. It would have been run as an M&S Foodhall rather than a full M&S store and was slated to create 60 new jobs.

CGI image showing how the redevelopment would look (Image: : Nacropolis Construction Ltd/Hertsmere Planning Portal/Claridge Architects)

Hertsmere Borough Council received 45 objections and three supporting comments on the application.

The only formal consultees to raise issues were the Ecology Service and Place Services.

Place Services said the demolition works are “not considered contentious” but took issue with the “unsympathetic" design of the scheme.

Its response said: “The proposal would introduce a substantial, monolithic structure that occupies the majority of the site. Its expansive footprint and three-storey plus massing would result in a conspicuous built form that appears incongruous with the established scale and grain of this part of the conservation area.

“The extensive façades fronting directly onto High Road and side would render the building visually dominant and intrusive.”

Meanwhile, the Ecology Service only requested further information on bat surveys, protected species details, and contribution to biodiversity net gain off site.

CGI image showing how the redevelopment would look (Image: : Nacropolis Construction Ltd/Hertsmere Planning Portal/Claridge Architects)

The applicant had described the site as currently “under-utilised” and highlighted that building an M&S would provide Bushey and Bushey Heath residents with a place to pick up their weekly shop without having to travel into Watford or Borehamwood.