Coulsdon Waitrose plan taken on by West Croydon church
THE fate of hundreds of new jobs is shaping up into a turf war between a supermarket and a church.
West Croydon's House of Judah church has submitted a planning application for a building also being eyed by Waitrose as part of an online shopping warehouse promising 400 jobs.
House of Judah wants build a new place of worship at Ullswater Crescent, Coulsdon, – creating ten jobs and 67 volunteer roles.
A separate group, Logic4training, has also put in plans for a small new outlet at number 18 – also eyed by Waitrose.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
With those two applications in, but no firm plans from Waitrose, there are fears over its plan to create the much-needed jobs.
Charles King, chair of the East Coulsdon Residents' Association, said he hoped the supermarket would hurry and put in a planning application before the other plans are decided.
He said: "We do not disagree in principle with having the church or the training group, but we do have a preference for Waitrose.
"If Waitrose can come and bring 400 jobs, then that must be the priority.
"We will be asking the council to urge Waitrose to hurry up with an application."
A spokesman for the landlord's agent said he had been instructed to secure planning permission for a distribution warehouse at the sites, with Waitrose the preferred client.
However, the Advertiser understands that site leaseholder Ricoh wants to sell on the remainder of its lease, due to expire in 2016.
A spokesman for Waitrose said she had nothing "firm to announce" about whether it wanted the site.
House of Judah Ministries – led by Bishop Michael Hutton-Wood – said the new church would host two services on Sundays and one on Fridays, each with congregations of up to 200.
It would also host week-round community events, including classes for young and elderly people and employment workshops. Facilities such as a bookstore and post-marital counselling would be available for the wider community.
It claims a study showed that noise and voices would be "faintly audible" during services when standing outside the northern end of the building.
Ward councillor Terry Lenton said she had not heard from either of the applicants, but added: "I welcome the suggestion of Waitrose moving onto the industrial estate, as they could create much-needed employment.
"I would be interested in hearing from the Judah Church and Logic4training, but to date have not been contacted by either.
"I understand concern has been expressed about the noise levels that might result from some of the Judah church activities.
"In general though it is good to see this interest in the Ullswater Estate."
House of Judah declined to comment beyond its public planning application.
Comments