Plans for Tesco store rejected but company likely to appeal

A packed meeting at Sheffield Town Hall heard that the new supermarket, which was proposed for a greenfield site off Oxclose Park Road in Halfway, would have provided up to 450 new jobs for locals.

Councillors voted in accordance with the planning officers’ recommendation to refuse permission for the development, however, on the ground that new housing should be built on the site instead.

More than 150 people had written letters of objection to the supermarket plans and a petition containing 785 signatures was also submitted by the Action in Mosborough Stop Tesco campaign group.

Chairman of that group Elaine Hinman told yesterday’s meeting: “The Tesco site is in entirely the wrong place. I believe that if Tesco wants to trade in the south-east of Sheffield it should go for sites attached to Crystal Peaks or Drakehouse.

“If these plans were to go ahead it would have an adverse effect on trade at Crystal Peaks. Tesco sells everything from Sellotape to dishwashers, while Crystal Peaks has 60 empty units.”

Other objections had come on the grounds of the potential increase in traffic, noise and air pollution.

Chris Hough, planning consultant for Tesco, urged the committee to approve the supermarket giant’s plans for economic reasons.

He said: “Most importantly, it would create around 450 full and part-time jobs with the potential to inject more than £5.5m of wages into the local economy.

“This job creation also does not include the potential for construction jobs. There is a need to grasp any investment opportunity with both hands.”

Following the committee’s vote, chairman John Hesketh said the proposals were likely to come back to the table. “I have little doubt that the applicant will appeal and I hope that the planning inspector agrees with us if it does go to appeal.”

Meanwhile, Tesco has also held a public consultation on plans for another superstore in Hoyland, Barnsley.

A two-day exhibition on proposals to build a supermarket in Market Street, which would create up to 140 jobs, was attended by around 175 residents.

According to Tesco, more than 85 per cent of people who filled in comment cards during the exhibition said they were in favour of the store being built.

One respondent, Maureen Green, said: “Hoyland has stood still for too long and it is losing business. We really need regeneration like this.”

Tesco, together with developer Litton Properties, is now using comments from the public consultation to inform the final planning application before it is submitted to Barnsley Council.

Further public consultations are planned to take place after the application has been submitted.

Research carried out by the company has found that around 90 per cent of people currently travel outside of Hoyland to do their weekly shopping.

Deborah Hayeems, a spokesman for Tesco, said: “We have had some really positive feedback from local residents about our exciting plans for Hoyland.

“We want to make sure that our proposed supermarket will benefit a wide range of people, from customers who want more shopping choice on their doorstep to people who are looking for a job.

“We will continue our discussions with local residents and community groups over the next few months.”

Mark Rothery head of retail development at Litton Properties, added: “We have seen a lot of support for the proposals. People realise that this development will help breathe new life into the town, and represents an important step in the future regeneration of Hoyland.”