Tesco denies new Sheringham site plan

Richard Batson

Tesco has denied rumours that it is switching its thwarted plans for a Sheringham store to a different site in the town.

The company said it was still considering its options after losing a high-profile planning appeal, but was hoping to make a decision before Christmas.

And it stressed that the current economic and banking crises were not affecting its plans for stores, including one at Halesworth in Suffolk.

Tesco looked to have lost its decade-long battle for a Sheringham store after a planning inspector last month threw out the scheme, mainly due to fears it would permanently damage the busy seaside town centre.

The news was greeted with glee among local campaigners who shared the same view, but there are still many people in the area who would welcome a bigger supermarket in the town.

Company spokesman Nick Gellatly said: “We are still considering the appeal decision and talking to professional advisors such as lawyers and planning consultants.

“We are not pursuing other sites, but are hoping to make a decision on what to do next this side of Christmas.”

The company was “not particularly affected” by the economic gloom, and was continuing to develop sites “where it would help customers.”

That also included Halesworth, where a pre-planning application session was held at the weekend for a store slightly larger than the Sheringham project.

“Customers are saying they are looking to supermarkets and retailers in general as they feel the pinch,” he added.

“People are being more careful. They are worried about the economy, and are drawing in their belts.”

That meant rising to the challenge of providing more price-led, value-for-money lines, and Tesco had just added a new range of 300-400 staple products from washing up liquid to breakfast cereals, aimed at competing more with the “continental discounters” - namely Aldi and Lidl.