South Norfolk Council has granted unanimous approval for a new shop in the village of Denton, bringing to an end a 35-year period without one, despite the council’s efforts to block the proposal.
The planning committee’s decision on Wednesday overturned recommendations from council officers, who had advised that the application should be rejected.
Denton, a village of approximately 350 residents situated around 17 miles from Norwich, lost its previous shop in 1991.
That establishment, located on Corner Road, served the community for at least eight decades at the time of its closure.
The new outlet will offer food and alcohol to villagers, with produce sourced from local suppliers.
The store will be constructed at the property of applicant Paul Wilby on Darrow Green Road, at a site known as the Old Dairy.
Mr Wilby and his partner, Karen, explained to councillors that they had spent more than a year developing their proposal, concluding that operating from their own premises represented the “only financially viable way to operate a village shop in Denton”.
The establishment will include a telephone ordering system and delivery service designed to assist elderly residents who find it difficult to leave their homes.
South Norfolk Council has granted unanimous approval for a new shop in the village of Denton, bringing to an end a 35-year period without one, despite the council’s efforts to block the proposal
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Up to three part-time positions are expected to be created by the venture, which will stock goods from suppliers in the surrounding area.
Planning officers had raised objections to the scheme, citing the site’s position more than a mile from Denton’s centre.
Their report noted the location was accessed via a single-track rural road lacking footpaths, street lighting, and public transport connections.
Officials had stated there was “no evidenced and demonstrated need” for the proposed convenience store, despite acknowledging support from residents, the parish council, and local councillors.
Denton lost its previous shop in 1991, located on Corner Road, which served the community for at least eight decades at the time of its closure
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DENTON PARISH COUNCIL
The applicants, however, dismissed these concerns as exaggerated. The Wilbys argued their case directly to the committee, urging members to approve the plans despite the officers’ reservations about the shop’s peripheral position.
Mrs Wilby spoke passionately about her community’s backing for the venture.
“We are blessed to live in such a special village and an amazing community who always club together to make things happen,” she told the committee.
“We are willing to take the risk of providing a much-needed service to our local community, and we have their full backing. All we are asking for is for Denton to have its own local shop to serve the community.”
Conservative councillor Kieran Murphy also voiced his support, stating: “They’ve made an effort to mitigate the failures of previous failed businesses. There are community benefits and economic benefits there, and I don’t think we should be shackling ourselves to our own detriment by our own policies.”
The committee ultimately determined that the advantages to the community outweighed any planning concerns.