A bitter blow for Bere Alston – Common sense denied

We’re angry, disappointed, and frankly baffled by the decision to dismiss our appeal for a new Co-op store in Bere Alston.

This wasn’t just our plan – it was the village’s plan. A well-thought-out, community-driven proposal to protect local jobs, keep essential services in Bere Alston, and finally make shopping accessible for everyone – from wheelchair users to parents with pushchairs. The Parish Council backed it, the local ward councillor backed it, and residents across the village backed it.

The inspector agreed with us on three of the five original refusal reasons, yet still decided to throw the plans out because of supposed ‘retail impact’ and ‘harm to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. Incredibly, he even criticised the proposal for including too many trees!

But here’s the irony: the inspector also admitted that ‘the biggest threat to the village would be if the existing Co-op closed.’

And that’s exactly what now risks happening.

The current Co-op is tiny, outdated, and inaccessible – with a 200mm granite step at the entrance, aisles too narrow for wheelchair users, and delivery lorries forced to block the road. It’s barely fit for purpose. It is earmarked for closure in 2026, which means Bere Alston will lose local jobs, and residents will be forced to travel miles for basic groceries.

Our proposed new store would have doubled the number of jobs, offered a safe and inclusive shopping experience, and kept retail spend within the village – not pushed it away.

Instead, once again, the planning system has chosen policy over people.

This decision shows exactly what’s wrong with the process: bureaucracy, inconsistency, and a lack of common sense. When even the planning inspector accepts that the existing store is likely to close, how can refusing its replacement possibly be in the best interests of the community?

We will continue to explore every possible option to support Bere Alston – but right now, this feels like a devastating setback for a village that deserves better.