Co-Op set sights on Sherford for new store with planning application to South Hams council

Hopes that Sherford will finally get its first permanent supermarket have received a major boost after retail giant Co-op confirmed it is applying to come to a new town-centre development.

While the community has seen a temporary store since its inception, this latest move looks set to be the first ‘bricks and mortar’ grocery presence for the growing town.

A reserved matters planning application (ref: 2550/25/ARM) has been submitted to South Hams District Council for a mixed-use development at the site.

The council said it was unable to comment on the application or details regarding the possible development; public records show the proposal is currently being assessed for land-use. 

Under standard planning protocols, specific tenant details are not typically disclosed to the local authority at this stage of a ‘reserved matters’ filing.

However, evidence of the retailer's arrival has appeared in the heart of the community. 

A formal notice for a new premises licence has been pinned to the town square on Hercules Road, near the local school.

The application, filed by Co-operative Food Limited, identifies the address of the premises as Co-op, The Ride, Hercules Road, Sherford. 

The notice outlines the retailer’s proposal to sell alcohol at the site, providing an indication of their commitment to the location while the wider planning application remains under consideration.

ABOVE: The application pinned near the local school

A spokesperson for Co-op confirmed to The Moorlander that the company is the intended occupier for the site.

For Sherford residents, the arrival of a major national retailer is seen as a vital milestone in the town’s infrastructure, providing a local hub for essentials and potentially anchoring further commercial investment in the area.