Tesco application ‘out of date’

COUNCILLORS have criticised retail giant Tesco for including “out of date” information in its latest application to build a store in Hadleigh.

In July last year, plans submitted by Tesco to put a supermarket on the former Brett Works site behind High Street and Bridge Street were rejected by Babergh District Council on the grounds of ‘unsuitable design’.

But town councillors say a revised application submitted this August is virtually identical to the proposal that was turned down last summer.

Tesco has defended the new application, but Hadleigh Town Council planning committee chair, Penny Cook, said: “Although the proposal was rejected on the grounds of unsuitable design, most people were against the development because of the effect it could have on traffic and the local economy.

“The only thing that has changed in this new application is the store design, but everything else is the same. They haven’t updated the information on traffic and the council has written to Suffolk County Council highways to ask if this is acceptable.”

Hands off Hadleigh group campaigner and town councillor, Jan Byrne, said if Tesco had appealed against last year’s decision, they would only have had to change the design element. But she added: “They didn’t appeal and consequently this is a new full application and everything gets looked at again.

“Since the last application Morrison’s has also applied to open a big store on the outskirts of town so Tesco’s retail assessment also should have been revised.”

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said: “We have received the latest application from Tesco as a consultee and have responded to the planning authority, Babergh District Council, requesting that the applicant provide further confirmation that the traffic flow data is up to date and that figures are accurate.”

A Tesco spokesman said many residents had told them they expected the new store to be a “positive addition” to the high street. He added: “We are extremely grateful for the constructive feedback and support which we have received from people in Hadleigh in response to our proposals.

“We listened to councillors’ concerns over our original design, and have now produced plans for a much more traditional style of building that will fit in well with its neighbours. We look forward to the result of our application, and to delivering new jobs and great choice to the whole community.”