Greggs beats health chiefs' bid to halt new shop

Bakery giant Greggs has beaten an attempt to stop it opening a new bigger shop after health chiefs claimed it would sell "unhealthy food".

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board tried to halt Greggs moving into an empty store next to one of its current shops in Pontypool, Torfaen, voicing concern that it was close to an educational site, and that the town already had many food and drink shops.

But planners will allow Greggs - which opened its 2,500th UK outlet earlier this year and has three shops in Pontypool and 40 in the health board area - to open in the larger George Street site.

The firm said that last year 40% of the food it sold was "a healthier option", well above its target of 30%.

The health board had objected to the planning application to Torfaen council on the grounds of the change of use of the building, thought to have previously been a Superdrug store.

Planning officer Tom Braithwaite said the type of goods sold could not "prejudice the favourable determination of this application" as it was for mixed retail and food and drink uses.

It could therefore be operated by any business in those use classes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Braithwaite said the health board's complaint about the proximity to an educational site had been given "limited weight", with the council having limited power to address such concerns.

Concerns about the expansion resulting in too many food and drink outlets in the town were dismissed, with Mr Braithwaite saying the selection of goods sold would not harm the "vitality" of the town centre.

A statement submitted by planning agents acting on behalf of Greggs said: “In 2023, Greggs far exceeded their target for 30% of the items on their shelves to be healthier choices. In fact, 40% of the range was a healthier option."

The agents said Greggs defined a "healthier option" as one that contained fewer than 400 calories and with no red traffic lights, based on the UK government’s voluntary nutrition labelling scheme.

The move would increase the number of jobs available, with a store of the size proposed expected to employ one full-time and 13 part-time posts, the statement added.

Greggs has 40 stores in the area which the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board covers.

There are three in Pontypool, 10 in Newport, four in Cwmbran, 16 in Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent, and six in Monmouthshire.