NOVEMBER 1, 2011: A decision to reject plans which could have seen a Sainsbury’s store built in Gourock was being appealed.

Proposals to demolish a building in the town’s Kempock Street and build a retail unit and three offices were rejected by Inverclyde Council’s planning board.

But developers had appealed to Scottish ministers in a bid to overturn the decision.

The developers said the board ‘overlooked the benefits the development would bring to Gourock town centre’ and rejected the arguments councillors made against the proposals.

A statement from agents for the developers, R & J.K. Toma & Dunbar of Rownanplan Properties, said there is ‘no credible argument the redevelopment of 32 to 36 Kempock Street will have a detrimental impact, in any way, on the function and viable future of Gourock town centre’.

The statement said the application process was ‘somewhat blurred’ by the news that supermarket chain Sainsbury’s would be the likely occupant of the site.

The developers said that detail was not a planning consideration.

Their statement added: “We would contend that should the occupier be a small Sainsbury’s convenience store, it would be a welcome addition to the retail offer and would help strengthen the town centre while being of an appropriate scale to Gourock, all in accordance with planning policy.”

Planning officers had recommended Inverclyde Council’s planning board grant permission, but councillors voted against the development.

The case was now awaiting allocation to a Scottish Government Reporter, who would consider the appeal.

The Scottish Government would later overturn the decision to refuse planning permission, paving the way for Sainsbury’s to open on Kempock Street.