Tesco Whitchurch plans thrown out

Tesco's plans to build an out-of-town supermarket in Whitchurch and create 280 jobs have been rejected.

The supermarket giant's bid to create a store at Edgeley Park has been thrown out by planning chiefs at Shropshire Council because it would kill of town centre trade. The scheme also included the redevelopment of the town's rugby and hockey club.

Tesco has also submitted a separate planning application to develop a smaller 'metro' store on its existing site at White Lion Meadow, but a decision on this has yet to be made.

News of the application being turned down has delighted campaigners who feared an out-of-town store would 'kill' the town centre and want to see Tesco redevelop its existing site.

Campaign group Whitchurch 21 collected more than 3,000 signatures for a petition against the Edgeley Park development.

Mike Bate, Whitchurch landlord, said: "I find it difficult to believe Tesco will just throw in the towel because they will have spent a lot of money on this. I can see them appealing the decision and if they get their way it will have an adverse effect on the town centre."

But supporters of the scheme had hoped it would draw trade back to the town and highlighted that the rugby and hockey club was a big asset to the town.

A report on behalf of Shropshire Council said: "The existing town centre site at White Lion Meadow has not been fully considered. The proposed store would have a clear and irrefutable significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre through loss of trade to the existing retail base."

The news comes as a further blow to Tesco after rival Sainsbury's won permission to create a supermarket off London Road last year.

Tesco was today unavailable for comment.