AN INDEPENDENT wine shop and bar has been given the go-ahead to open in Great Malvern despite objections raised by the council.
The Wine Flight will take over 6-8 Graham Road, the unit previously home to the Kate Modern art gallery.
Malvern Town Council said the scheme would be “adding another similar business into an area where there are already shops that sell alcohol and hospitality premises where alcohol can be consumed”.
Responding to a planning consultation, it said: “It is therefore likely to have a negative economic effect on the businesses already present.
“The negative impact of retail units turning, even partly, into hospitality on the UK high street is becoming increasingly visible, particularly in smaller towns.
CHURCH STREET: Councillors said there are already enough places to buy alcohol in the high street (Image: Google Maps)
“Hospitality-led regeneration removes local identity and makes different high streets feel interchangeable.
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“Historically, UK high streets were multi-functional civic spaces. When hospitality dominates, high streets become more consumption-focused and less community-oriented.
“Malvern Town Council feel that it is important to maintain a diverse retail sector and this application would have a negative effect on the vitality of Great Malvern as a diverse and thriving centre.”
But planning officers at Malvern Hills District Council approved the change of use from retail (Class E) to a wine bar (sui generis) with ancillary retail.
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Officers said the proposal aligns with both local and national planning policy aimed at fostering economic growth and adaptable use of town centre spaces.
In their report, officers noted that the site falls within a secondary shopping area where mixed use is encouraged.
They said such diversification supports vitality and viability, provided an active street frontage is maintained.
The report stated: “The proposal retains a ground floor active frontage, which is an important consideration in ensuring continued pedestrian interest, natural surveillance, and contribution to the overall vibrancy of the streetscape.”
They said the wine bar could boost footfall and contribute positively to the overall vitality of the town centre.
Consideration was given to noise and disturbance concerns.
Officers said this type of use is common in town centres and deemed a condition necessary to restrict amplified music between 11pm and 7am to protect nearby residents.