Tesco: the end of the affair?

The latest application for what was the proposed Tesco site in Grafton Way was before the planners, giving the opportunity for another retailer to develop the site. The proposals were for a smaller mixed retail store, two hotels and 14 residential units. However, the application was withdrawn just before the December Planning meeting, possibly in the light of the Officers' recommendation for refusal.

The grounds were that this speculative development would have undermined the viability of the Central Shopping Area and that the applicant (Spenhill, Tesco's agent) had not demonstrated that a new store would not serve the town better on the Civic Centre site. Tesco's current permission, though granted, has never had its section 106 agreements signed and it expires at the end of February 2015 (an additional year was granted because the process was subject to a judicial review). I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I am optimistic we shall get a better solution for this riverside site.