Revised plans for Morrisons superstore in Christchurch set to go on show

Staff at Beagle Technology Group supporting the plans Staff at Beagle Technology Group supporting the plans

REVISED plans for one of Christchurch’s three supermarket proposals are to go on show in the town from Saturday.

Morrisons along with retail developer Simons are launching a fresh bid to build their state-of-the-art store on the site currently occupied by Beagle Technology in Stony Lane.

The proposal, along with two other separate schemes – one for Bailey Drive just off Barrack Road and another for Meteor Park in Somerford – are due for re-decisions by Christchurch Borough Council ’s planning committee in October.

Despite decisions being made on all three proposals in June, they were scrapped due to the threat of a legal challenge from one of the unsuccessful developers.

Now, after reviewing their application, the supermarket is taking over a vacant shop next to Powr Tools on Bridge Street from this weekend.

They will be organising a series of activities to raise awareness of their revised scheme, with visitors able to examine the proposals, speak to the project team about the proposals and partake in some food and drinks tasting.

Graeme Cosgrove, development director for Simons Developments, said: “Out of the three applications, ours is in the best location for drawing shoppers along Bridge Street.

“Up to 300 Morrisons jobs will be created, in addition to the jobs created by the Beagle relocation and through construction.

“It also has the most local support out of any of the supermarket proposals.

“Importantly, it is the only supermarket proposal with a named operator.

“Whereas ours is a detailed application, the others are only in outline, meaning that the applicants cannot give any assurances as to who would occupy the store, what it would look like, when it would open or how many jobs it would create.”

The new pop-up shop will open between 10am and 4pm every Monday, Friday and Saturday until late October.

Site changes

  • Height of the building has been lowered by 3.5metres
  • Access for delivery vehicles has been rearranged so they no longer enter or exit via Bridge Street
  • A “living wall” – wall covered with vegetation – incorporated into the design of the store
  • Public art and new water meadow are now part of the proposals too.

Comments(34)

christchurch long time resident says...
10:40am Sun 9 Sep 12

dont want morrisons, been to the one in newmilton not really impressed, what would really like is an asda whom have been trying for many years to get into christchurch but blocked by the council at every turn. just how much is sainsburys paying them to not let in a serious contender. morrisons ppfftt keep it. i want asda.

pugs0404 says...
11:45am Sun 9 Sep 12

morrisons is better than asda

Controversial But True says...
12:09pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Get rid of the thing in Christchurch that attracts old people with a liking for overpriced rubbish...

Marks And Spencers!!!

Same with the Co-op. That attracts plebs!!

Keep the Waitrose though. That attracts class.

At least Morrisons attracts normal people. A local shop for local people!!!

B.A.T.A.G. says...
12:18pm Sun 9 Sep 12

pugs0404 wrote:
morrisons is better than asda
Come on pugs0404 how can you say Morrisons is better than Asda when Asda has held not only the most price cuts each week but also been voted the top supermarket for the last 14 years.

B.A.T.A.G. says...
12:24pm Sun 9 Sep 12

christchurch long time resident wrote:
dont want morrisons, been to the one in newmilton not really impressed, what would really like is an asda whom have been trying for many years to get into christchurch but blocked by the council at every turn. just how much is sainsburys paying them to not let in a serious contender. morrisons ppfftt keep it. i want asda.
Hear, hear Christchurch long time resident, Asda knocks Morrisons for six on not only their products, their prices, their stock but also their range of products. That is why they have more price cuts for week and held the record as the best supermarket for the last 14 years. Everyone please vote for a Asda.

Wageslave says...
1:56pm Sun 9 Sep 12

If you like ASDA use Castlepoint,its only a mile away. At least Morrisons is different, then you have one of each to choose from.

madras says...
3:22pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Wageslave wrote:
If you like ASDA use Castlepoint,its only a mile away. At least Morrisons is different, then you have one of each to choose from.
CastlePoint a mile away from Christchurch? I don't think so!

And it's not just the distance but a p-a-i-n-f-u-l journey to drive there...

B.A.T.A.G. says...
4:30pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Wageslave wrote:
If you like ASDA use Castlepoint,its only a mile away. At least Morrisons is different, then you have one of each to choose from.
Wageslave you can say that again as I have stated IF MORRISONS IS SO GOOD WHY IS ASDA LOWER ON THE AMOUNT OF PRICES OF GOODS EACH WEEK AND HAVE HELD THE RECORD FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS. Doesn't that prove a point. Come on Wageslave what's it like being in the minority about time you woke up and smelt the Asda coffee instead of the Morrisons coffee.

pugs0404 says...
4:57pm Sun 9 Sep 12

its all about choice, lots of asdas but not many morrissons

best troll ever says...
5:22pm Sun 9 Sep 12

asda or morisons whats the diffo your taste buds died years ago keep taking the snuff though

snake hips says...
5:36pm Sun 9 Sep 12

B.A.T.A.G. wrote:
Wageslave wrote:
If you like ASDA use Castlepoint,its only a mile away. At least Morrisons is different, then you have one of each to choose from.
Wageslave you can say that again as I have stated IF MORRISONS IS SO GOOD WHY IS ASDA LOWER ON THE AMOUNT OF PRICES OF GOODS EACH WEEK AND HAVE HELD THE RECORD FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS. Doesn't that prove a point. Come on Wageslave what's it like being in the minority about time you woke up and smelt the Asda coffee instead of the Morrisons coffee.
Are you a Asda employee spouting all that rubbish or if not that then a total geek who needs to get out more!

B.A.T.A.G. says...
7:51pm Sun 9 Sep 12

No I am not an Asda employee I am a Asda shopper and have been for the last twelve years so have prooved their facts. As for spouting all that rubbish were have you been all these years this is not rubbish it is fact if I spouting rubbish so must Asda and their 1000s of loyal customers over the years. As for being a total geek who needs to get out more why dont you stop being a total geek and go on an give Asda a try you never know you might like their products and you will certainly love their prices. But if not YOU keep shopping at Morrisons and I will keep shopping at Asda but I know on thing I will be the one that will be richer at the end of the year.

snake hips says...
7:57pm Sun 9 Sep 12

B.A.T.A.G. wrote:
No I am not an Asda employee I am a Asda shopper and have been for the last twelve years so have prooved their facts. As for spouting all that rubbish were have you been all these years this is not rubbish it is fact if I spouting rubbish so must Asda and their 1000s of loyal customers over the years. As for being a total geek who needs to get out more why dont you stop being a total geek and go on an give Asda a try you never know you might like their products and you will certainly love their prices. But if not YOU keep shopping at Morrisons and I will keep shopping at Asda but I know on thing I will be the one that will be richer at the end of the year.
I don't shop in morrisons, Asda is a dump dirty and full of chavs. Saindburys for me.

Say-it-how-it-is says...
8:26pm Sun 9 Sep 12

B.A.T.A.G. wrote:
christchurch long time resident wrote:
dont want morrisons, been to the one in newmilton not really impressed, what would really like is an asda whom have been trying for many years to get into christchurch but blocked by the council at every turn. just how much is sainsburys paying them to not let in a serious contender. morrisons ppfftt keep it. i want asda.
Hear, hear Christchurch long time resident, Asda knocks Morrisons for six on not only their products, their prices, their stock but also their range of products. That is why they have more price cuts for week and held the record as the best supermarket for the last 14 years. Everyone please vote for a Asda.
Have you never been to a Morrisons. They are by far cheaper than an Asda and the only super market that does fresh food. I use to go to the big Asda in Poole. But the food standards has gone right down hill. I got very ill by their food and will never go to them again. Tesco use to be the same once. But ive been in the Blandford store, and their food has got a lot better over the years. But Asda's food is not good. Not only that. There is only 4 Morrisons in Dorset and how many Asda. To many. Bring on Morrisons.

Say-it-how-it-is says...
8:37pm Sun 9 Sep 12

snake hips wrote:
B.A.T.A.G. wrote:
No I am not an Asda employee I am a Asda shopper and have been for the last twelve years so have prooved their facts. As for spouting all that rubbish were have you been all these years this is not rubbish it is fact if I spouting rubbish so must Asda and their 1000s of loyal customers over the years. As for being a total geek who needs to get out more why dont you stop being a total geek and go on an give Asda a try you never know you might like their products and you will certainly love their prices. But if not YOU keep shopping at Morrisons and I will keep shopping at Asda but I know on thing I will be the one that will be richer at the end of the year.
I don't shop in morrisons, Asda is a dump dirty and full of chavs. Saindburys for me.
I use to go to them. But they have gone up in price over the years. But the co-op is the most expensive store out there. I have the cheapest shopping bill when I go to Morrisons than an Asda. It's a shame I can't afford to go to Sainburys any more as they are good.

Deborah111 says...
9:22pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Any additional supermarket is a bad idea for this part of town. The traffic is already terrible along Purewell/ the bypass and these proposals will only add to this. Morrisons say that they will put £1million towards the traffic problem, but this is for a traffic management system which basically means traffic lights at the roundabout and a new roundabout on Stony Lane. This will just slow down traffic and either divert it along Purewell or back into Bridge street and over the already decaying bridge.
All of the supermarkets only care about making money and have no interest in the impact on the local residents and the town.

B.A.T.A.G. says...
9:30pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Well goodnight all other supermarket fans you still keep going to your supermarkets and I will still keep going to dear old Asda (by the way I havn't been ill yet.) As they say one man's meat is another man's poison (excuse the pun.)

StuckintheMiddle says...
10:03pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Let's hope something happens soon, before more jobs are lost at Beagle, from 30+ white coats down to 10. What a sorry sight.

fedupwithfedupjobsworths says...
10:27pm Sun 9 Sep 12

There should be a Tesco Extra in Christchurch there isnt a decent size store in the town only piddly express stores.

Yankee1 says...
10:27pm Sun 9 Sep 12

snake hips wrote:
B.A.T.A.G. wrote:
No I am not an Asda employee I am a Asda shopper and have been for the last twelve years so have prooved their facts. As for spouting all that rubbish were have you been all these years this is not rubbish it is fact if I spouting rubbish so must Asda and their 1000s of loyal customers over the years. As for being a total geek who needs to get out more why dont you stop being a total geek and go on an give Asda a try you never know you might like their products and you will certainly love their prices. But if not YOU keep shopping at Morrisons and I will keep shopping at Asda but I know on thing I will be the one that will be richer at the end of the year.
I don't shop in morrisons, Asda is a dump dirty and full of chavs. Saindburys for me.
I find it amusing to note that the famed British class system no longer depends upon one's education, but one's choice of supermarket.

Asda is Walmart, by the way.

Rich_Enduro says...
11:09pm Sun 9 Sep 12

yer, asda is owned by the Americans. Morrisons is a Great British success story. we need more of them to increase competition. Tesco maybe British but they are starting to dominate the market place. even the small independent stores are being forced out of business by tesco opening up on every street corner.

portia6 says...
6:20am Mon 10 Sep 12

Rich_Enduro wrote:
yer, asda is owned by the Americans. Morrisons is a Great British success story. we need more of them to increase competition. Tesco maybe British but they are starting to dominate the market place. even the small independent stores are being forced out of business by tesco opening up on every street corner.
the butcher the baker the candlestick
maker they all jumped out of a rotten
potato its all the same to me just have
to shop around Aldi or Lidls are
very good value not tried Morrison's
but have heard they are good value.

traceyannconnor says...
6:53am Mon 10 Sep 12

Asda is a shop to reckon with. This will be a challenge for Morrison's. Healthy competition is good, we face it every day.
Morrison's will rise to the challenge and personal experience as a shopper, I would drive upto 5 miles for the experience, shopped there for years.
Castle Lane is a nightmare, merging lanes- who in their right mind designed this road, so stressful. CastlePoint is a lovely shopping experience, clean, excellent parking and easy access for all.
I can't wait for Morrison's to open and employ people!

Victor_Meldrew_Lives! says...
8:58am Mon 10 Sep 12

The best thing about Christchurch is when you leave the place. Leaving it via Castle Lane is truly dire but at least you have left.

scrumpyjack says...
11:10am Mon 10 Sep 12

Victor_Meldrew_Lives
!
wrote:
The best thing about Christchurch is when you leave the place. Leaving it via Castle Lane is truly dire but at least you have left.
Really?

What is it you don't like about Christchurch?

matt 66 says...
11:19am Mon 10 Sep 12

This article is about supporting a Morrisons not supporting Beagle...whilst a Morrisons would be nice...but the Beagle site is not the right place...the irreversible damage that will be done to the already failing town bridge that Councillor Geary has been making us aware of recently, will be tragic due to all the extra traffic.Beagle may say it will not cause extra traffic on bridge street but if the by pass is blocked as it often is then of course cars and their delivery lorries are going to cut down Bridge street damaging the bridge and causing more gridlock. All that extra traffic onto the Stony Lane round about is going to make it even more of a gridlock...there is no gurantee that Beagle will stay local as all they are really concerned about is the money from the deal to Morrisons...if people care about the staff at Beagle then refusing planning for this site will force multi millionaire owner Jack Lovell to use his own building company (the ones in bed with Bournemouth Borough Council according to the Echo) to refurbish the existing site to be fit for purpose...something he has been unwilling to do I bet as a way of black mailing the councillors.

Developing Beagle as a supermarket does not safeguard the skilled jobs of the staff it actually makes them far more vulnerable to being replaced with a factory in China...Morrisons are no fools and will clearly go to the site that is passed by the councillors...so we may well get the morrisons or asda that people seem to want, but it is not right that the staff of beagle are being used as pawns by the management of beagle to line their own pockets.

Mudefordman says...
12:05pm Mon 10 Sep 12

I think it does'nt matter which one you use. If you are a family with 2 kids or more it's common sense to go for the cheepest supermarket prices, but there are only 2 of us who are elderly and i have tried different ones and the cost is invarible the same as they tend to do bulk offers for familys' when we only want a small shop

Xchurchmary says...
12:57pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Our elected councillors refused this scheme earlier this year for good reason as it will cause traffic mayhem - making an already bad situation worse.

The councillors got it right last time before sinster events happened guided no doubt by the man from the council who is in the news today - the Bailey Drive site is the one that was given the green light and must be again - it is a redundant site, it gives the town much needed affordable housing, the play park is a great idea and the bridge to bournemouth is great for us cyclists. Not to mention that Bailey Drive is the only store that is proposed for the West of Christchurch which currently has no stores...I shop in Bournemouth currently at Tesco Castle Lane as do many friends and we all agree that if Bailey Drive happened then we would not have to drive to Bournemouth to do our shop. result less cars on Barrack Road which is good for Christchurch.

Clearly the supermarket operator will go to whichever site gets the green light and Beagle is not the right site.

Imaximus says...
1:05pm Mon 10 Sep 12

I cant believe people are fighting over Asda or Morrisons........dea
r oh dear.......I blame the Imax....and cyclists.

woby_tide says...
1:30pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Xchurchmary wrote:
Our elected councillors refused this scheme earlier this year for good reason as it will cause traffic mayhem - making an already bad situation worse.

The councillors got it right last time before sinster events happened guided no doubt by the man from the council who is in the news today - the Bailey Drive site is the one that was given the green light and must be again - it is a redundant site, it gives the town much needed affordable housing, the play park is a great idea and the bridge to bournemouth is great for us cyclists. Not to mention that Bailey Drive is the only store that is proposed for the West of Christchurch which currently has no stores...I shop in Bournemouth currently at Tesco Castle Lane as do many friends and we all agree that if Bailey Drive happened then we would not have to drive to Bournemouth to do our shop. result less cars on Barrack Road which is good for Christchurch.

Clearly the supermarket operator will go to whichever site gets the green light and Beagle is not the right site.
How is putting a supermarket on Barrack Road going to result in less traffic on Barrack Road? Anyone who currently uses it to reach another supermarket will instead still be on Barrack Road going to a new supermarket instead, along with any others from Southbourne/Tuckton etc. who instead choose to shop at the new supermarket rather than fight down Castle Lane.

The one common factor on all 3 supermarket schemes is that they will likely cause traffic on already congested roads. Sadly waving a couple of token gestures in peoples faces is enough to buy support for some schemes. I want the site redeveloped but I want some serious thought put into the traffic management round the whole town

me&mybitches says...
4:21pm Mon 10 Sep 12

woby_tide wrote:
Xchurchmary wrote:
Our elected councillors refused this scheme earlier this year for good reason as it will cause traffic mayhem - making an already bad situation worse.

The councillors got it right last time before sinster events happened guided no doubt by the man from the council who is in the news today - the Bailey Drive site is the one that was given the green light and must be again - it is a redundant site, it gives the town much needed affordable housing, the play park is a great idea and the bridge to bournemouth is great for us cyclists. Not to mention that Bailey Drive is the only store that is proposed for the West of Christchurch which currently has no stores...I shop in Bournemouth currently at Tesco Castle Lane as do many friends and we all agree that if Bailey Drive happened then we would not have to drive to Bournemouth to do our shop. result less cars on Barrack Road which is good for Christchurch.

Clearly the supermarket operator will go to whichever site gets the green light and Beagle is not the right site.
How is putting a supermarket on Barrack Road going to result in less traffic on Barrack Road? Anyone who currently uses it to reach another supermarket will instead still be on Barrack Road going to a new supermarket instead, along with any others from Southbourne/Tuckton etc. who instead choose to shop at the new supermarket rather than fight down Castle Lane.

The one common factor on all 3 supermarket schemes is that they will likely cause traffic on already congested roads. Sadly waving a couple of token gestures in peoples faces is enough to buy support for some schemes. I want the site redeveloped but I want some serious thought put into the traffic management round the whole town
woby_tide wrote:
I want the site redeveloped but I want some serious thought put into the traffic management round the whole town.

Isn't this the main drawback for our town, the bottle-neck, if "some serious thought" resulted in an easing of the through traffic some re-development would be more feasible.

fedupofchristchurch says...
8:46pm Mon 10 Sep 12

For people trying to get to work in Bournemouth a supermarket on the Bailey Drive site would be ridiculous. How anyone can say it won't cause total chaos and congestion at rush hour times is probably retired but then I forgot most of the residents are!

Loyal2AFCB says...
4:29pm Tue 11 Sep 12

No more supermarkets thank you. Christchurch has already lost far too much of its industrial land to retail parks. Low paid menial shelf stacking employment is of no use to local people, what they need is proper jobs.

KENROY says...
3:39pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Why all this debate about Morrisons or Asda surely it will be good if the people who live in Christchurch shop there I am in favour of Morrisons at the Beagle site and Asda at the Bailey Bridge site as currently I travel to Somerford or Castle Lane for my shopping as many Christchurch residents do.neither will happen if left to our councillors who are subject to influence by the consortium who want to develop Barrack Raod police station site and the existing supermarkets who want to maintain the status quo

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