Tesco U-turn over Whitchurch plans

Tesco today performed a U-turn over its plans to redevelop its existing supermarket in Whitchurch and revealed it could go back to the drawing board for the site.

Until now the company has insisted there was no scope for a major redevelopment of its existing store at White Lion Meadow.

Instead it has pushed ahead with controversial proposals for an out-of-town store at Edgeley Park, which is the home of Whitchurch Rugby Club.

But now in a letter to Shropshire Council planners, planning consultants DPP which act for Tesco, say the White Lion Meadow site could present a "major Tesco regeneration proposal".

It came as the supermarket firm also today offered to save a row of banks under-threat because of plans to expand its Extra store in Shrewsbury.

In Whitchurch Tesco bosses have previously said there were too many constraints on the town centre site. But the DPP letter talks about overcoming a number of hurdles with a view to re-examining a town centre development.

Simon Hoare, spokesman for Tesco, said today it did not mean the Edgeley Park plans were being mothballed.

But he said: "It's one of those things that one has to keep under continual review."

In Shrewsbury Tesco has offered to save a row of banks under-threat because of the scheme for its Extra store.

The firm has announced plans to increase the size of its store in Harlescott.

The four banks – Lloyds TSB, HSBC, Barclays and Nat West – are tenants of Tesco and the land occupied by their buildings is needed to accommodate the store extension.