Appeal to demolish Homebase and replace with care home is dismissed

The appeal to demolish the Homebase site and replace it with a new care home has been dismissed.

R4U Councillor Paul Gadd, leader of Saffron Walden Town Council, attended the appeal hearing on behalf of SWTC and spoke against the appeal. SWTC is delighted by this news, and the fact that Homebase can remain in Saffron Walden. The Homebase site is unique in providing a relatively large retail / employment site close to the town centre and within easy walking distance for many people, and many residents have said how much they value Homebase. Saffron Walden Town Council has opposed this development since it was first proposed, and we have made detailed submissions in support of retaining the Homebase store, and the local employment it provides, when it was first considered by Uttlesford District Council and then by the Government Planning Inspector. Because of Covid the appeal hearing was held on-line, and so we had our first experience of giving evidence and being cross-examined by video link.

Our congratulations go to both Uttlesford District Council and to Homebase for successfully defending the original planning decision to maintain the site for employment purposes, and to retain Homebase in Saffron Walden.