Tesco given approval for new Tenbury Wells store

Controversial plans to build a new Tesco supermarket in near Tenbury Wells creating 150 jobs have been given the go ahead by planners.

The 2,310 sq metre store will be built on the town's former cattle market, with Tesco bosses claiming the project will bring an unused piece of land back to life and create much-needed jobs.

The scheme will include the demolition of the Russell, Baldwin and Bright building which dates back to Victorian times.

More than 100 people attended a meeting of Malvern Hills District Council's northern area development control committee at Tenbury High School last night where the plans were approved by councillors.

The project was supported by Tenbury Town Council.

But Tenbury Futures, an independent group of residents which had hoped to create a museum, markets and cafes on the site, had claimed the Tesco project could damage the town 'beyond repair' and could sound the death knell for struggling independent traders.

Sophie Akokhia, Tesco regional corporate affairs manager, said the firm would revamp and widen a walkway around the river Teme and discuss with local heritage chiefs about converting a listed fire station on the site into museum space.

She said: "It is regrettable but the RBB building will have to be demolished. We will however etch a reflection of the building onto the ground where it stood so people can see what it was like."

See also:

• New year wait for Tesco in Tenbury Wells

• Tenbury Wells Tesco decision date moved

• Tenbury Wells councillors in Tesco backing U-turn