Green light for alcohol licence for new Sunderland c-store

A new shop at Sunderland’s former Joplings department store site has won permission to sell alcohol following a decision by licensing bosses.

Last week, Sunderland City Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee discussed a bid for a premises licence for Jopling Stores.

The convenience store, which operates under the Premier brand, is based in the ground floor of student accommodation development Jopling House, off John Street.

According to licensing documents, the store has been selling non-alcohol products since early February.

Under new plans, applicant Ladykirk Investments Ltd applied for permission to sell booze between 10am-8pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

At a licensing hearing on May 7, the first to be live streamed online under coronavirus social distancing guidelines, councillors discussed the application.

This included measuring the application against the council’s ‘cumulative impact’ policy which covers areas that are vulnerable to crime caused by drinking.

The meeting heard that two petitions had been lodged with a combined total of nearly 40 signatures raising concerns about antisocial behaviour and street drinking in the area.

But representatives from Ladykirk Investments Ltd stressed measures would be put in place to meet council licensing objectives.

This ranged from CCTV, staff training around proxy sales and a ‘Challenge 25’ policy, to refusing to serve single cans and employing a security staff member during licensing hours.

Other conditions included police being able to request the removal of certain brands or sizes of alcohol bottles and no sales of beer, lager or cider with an ABV of more than 5.5%.

Solicitor for the applicant, Sarah Smith, told the meeting that a petition in support had been submitted with around 60 signatures from customers and added more jobs would be created at Jopling Stores if the alcohol bid was approved.

She said: “The hope is that by opening this shop and making it as successful as possible it will seek to attract other retail or leisure operators to take on the remaining [retail] units once they’re confident that it’s a vibrant trading area.

“That will lead to more investment in the city centre bringing more jobs and a boost to the economy.

“It’s important to allow and encourage investment and competition, which in itself, assists in addressing the negative issues experienced.

“For example, boarded up shops and dark corners create places for street drinkers to mill about and cause crime and disorder whilst an active retail offering with CCTV, staffing and customer presence will discourage such activity.”

Northumbria Police had no objections to the licence bid and despite invitations, no objectors joined the online meeting to voice concerns.

In response to questions from the sub-committee, applicant Seema Jagota also confirmed that relevant training around alcohol sales would be put into place before the shop is stocked.

In line with guidelines agreed by councillors at the meeting, the Licensing Sub-Committee agreed to publish a decision within five working days.

The decision notice, published this week, revealed the licensing application has now been approved.

On the prevention of crime and disorder points, the report reads: “The petitioners have indicated that there are concerns at the levels of crime and disorder in the area.

“As there have been no sales to this point there is no evidence that it will add to the problems.

“The guidance says shops should be able to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises when open unless there are good reasons based on the licensing objectives to restrict the hours.

“The police and licensing section have liaised with the applicant and the opening times amended to address such concerns.”

It goes on to say: “There are no issues of public safety identified associated with the premises and a security staff member is to be employed.

“Alcohol can already be purchased elsewhere in numerous other premises close to the interchange.”

Joplings department store closed around a decade ago when the firm running the store went into administration, leading to the loss of 100 jobs.

In recent years, the site has been redeveloped as luxury student apartments and retail units and renamed ‘Jopling House’ in homage to the building’s history.