New Tesco Planning Application

The plans for the proposed new Tesco store can be found here -
planning application

Which option is best?

At last we have a sensible proposal for a supermarket in Sheringham. It is close to the shops, provides a market place but most important replaces the lost car parking places using land on Cromer Road.
The only stumbling block is that once again the Council believe they are unable to work with any one other than Tesco. Even Tesco, on their own website say that they have no desire to control what the council does.
"The Agreement was not a secret. It does not prevent another retailer from finding a site and securing planning permission for a supermarket, nor does it prevent the Council from selling other Council owned land for retail development. Rather, the Council, in its capacity as landowner, is prevented from taking any steps which might be or become detrimental to, or increase the cost of, our attempts to secure satisfactory planning permission for a supermarket at the Cromer Road site only. "

Come on North Norfolk District Council, be fair to all parties and help come up with the best option for Sheringham.

Third supermarket plan for Sheringham

A third supermarket plan is about to be tabled at Sheringham as the long-running store wars saga in the town takes another unexpected twist. The latest scheme, from developer Richard Davies, includes a store on the town's main car park next to the steam railway station, a continental style market, car parking which is partly underground and 54 affordable flats. It comes as Tesco draws up revised plans for its prolonged bid to build a store in the town, and local landowner Clive Hay-Smith recently revealed a rival scheme to provide a “green” supermarket with electric delivery vans and a share of the profits going to a community charity. Mr Davies, the man behind an eco-town plan at the former RAF Coltishall and who wanted to put a Dubai-style sail building in a Cromer clifftop park, said he had originally toyed with his scheme five years ago - and had now decided to lodge the plans, adding: “Everybody else is having a go, so why shouldn't I?”He aims to lodge the plans in the next few weeks, having put them on display in the town to get public feedback.“This is a fantastic scheme which would provide the town with the supermarket it wants, extra car parking, and affordable homes,” he said. “It is elegant and will lift Sheringham.” The scheme puts the 1,400 sq m store on the North Norfolk District-owned car park, along 39 car parking spaces above ground and 150 below. A redeveloped market area would have demountable stalls that would fold into the ground, and street café. But it also features the Cromer road site figuring in Tesco's plans, where there would be another 288 space-car park above and below ground, 54 low cost homes to replace the Lockerbie flats, and coach parking with a turntable to ease access. Mr Davies said the parking and market ideas had come from visits to market towns in Holland and Germany.He realised the land was in the ownership of councils, with Tesco having an option to buy - but he would consider letting the supermarket take it on, adding “If they want to take it from me, it will be my gift.”Sheringham needed a supermarket and the plan could well stir up further controversy to “get things done”. The station site was earlier earmarked for a Budgens store, which won planning permission on appeal, but failed to advance because of a controversial land deal clause between Tesco and the district council over another site, which prevents the council from promoting a rival supermarket on its land. Mr Hay-Smith's green scheme is on the Weybourne Road near the Splash pool, and involves a proposed land swap deal with the town council which would provide more allotments.D istrict council legal manager Emma Duncan said while a supermarket on the car park site was allowable under policy, the Tesco clause meant it was “difficult” for other developers to promote a plan. Even if Tesco released the clause the council would still have to consider whether it wanted to sell the land.

Tesco unveils new Sheringham vision

Tesco executives have unveiled a new vision for a Sheringham supermarket, hoping to answer 13 years of criticism. But, as crowds scrambled to get a better look at the plans, the split in the town seemed as strong as ever. The store chain claims to have started from scratch on its plans for the Cromer Road site after its last proposals were thrown out by a planning inspector in September. An exhibition on Friday at Oddfellows Hall revealed its vision of a building that is a quarter smaller than the previous offering, positioned closer to Station Road to encourage shoppers to stay in town and of a design which, Tesco hopes, will answer the inspector's criticisms of a "mundane" appearance. Tesco had brought in Wilkinson Eyre, the architects behind the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, and spokesman Nick Gellatly said that, at just 6.5m high and using a combination of brick and flint, the building would blend in better with its surroundings. He added: "We have tried to make the building fit comfortably with its area. We are using materials used in some of the other buildings nearby."But, while the proposed 1,250 sq ft supermarket aimed to reconcile the two disparate camps in the town, a notice board full of comments from visitors to the exhibition suggested the split was still very much in place. Comments such as "Yes please, do it soon" and "Much needed, best wishes from us who suffer high prices in Sheringham" were balanced out by others saying "Not in my name" and "Too large, wrong place". After looking at the proposals, Pam Blyth, from the Protesc group, said she believed the company had bent over backwards to make people happy. She said of the plans: "They're absolutely brilliant. I think they have gone 150pc towards answering all the concerns of the people. It's absolutely superb and will fit in with the town." But Eroica Mildmay, of Sheringham Campaign Against Major Retail Overdevelopment, said the new plans were too vague to win anyone over. She added: "There is no picture of what the town will be like. It's being kept deliberately vague. I left feeling a little bit inconclusive about what it was they were offering." Tesco said it had purposely not drawn up a finished design as it hoped feedback from the exhibition could be used to influence a final appearance. Several people seemed sceptical about the prospect of a smaller store, believing future expansion was inevitable, but Mr Gellatly said: "The site is so constrained it would be very difficult to extend. You can never say never, but we cannot see how we could do it."

New twist in Norfolk store wars

A store wars saga at Sheringham has taken a fresh twist as a new contender entered the fray with a groundbreaking idea for a supermarket which seeks to help the environment and local traders. The seaside town has been the focus of a battle to build a store for more than a decade, with Tesco and Budgens leading the way in the past. But, just as Tesco prepared to unveil its latest plans for a scaled- down store, a local landowner has thrown his hat in the ring with a pioneering plan. It involves a store in an eco-friendly building, that would have electric delivery vehicles and plough a share of its profits back into a new community charity. The rank outsider saddling up for the race to build a store is retired businessman Clive Hay-Smith, driven by a desire to add another option to the long-running debate, and a feeling that Sheringham deserved better than the plans served up so far by Tesco. The 52-year-old, who was chief executive in the Pearson publishing empire, was brought up in Sheringham and had “watched the Tesco debate from afar”. He explained: “I have been thinking about this for a year. The community deserves better than what Tesco is planning.” Mr Hay-Smith's plan on the Weybourne Road near the Splash pool, revolves around a land swap already agreed in principle by Sheringham Town Council. He would give the town 13 acres of farmland, enabling it to double the number of allotments and provide space to expand the cemetery. In return he would build a Greenhouse Country Store on the four-acre allotment plot, in a building with a sedum roof, solar panels and wind turbines. Mr Hay-Smith said he aimed to build and operate the store, but would consider letting a retailer run it if they were “of the right profile”, with 10pc of any sale proceeds going to the charity trust. The swap could go ahead even if the store scheme did not come off, said Mr Hay-Smith who said although his store was the same size as the original Tesco scheme, it was a different, greener approach, and less of a traffic hazard away from the roundabout and fire station. Sheringham mayor Noel Gant confirmed the council had agreed in principle “after considerable discussion” to the land swap because of the benefits to a community where there was a 40-strong waiting list for allotments. Eroica Mildmay, whose Sheringham Campaign Against Major Retail Overdevelopment group has opposed the Tesco plans, could not comment fully about the Greenhouse scheme until she knew all the facts, but welcomed the “community viability issues at the centre of its ethos” and green design. North Norfolk District Council community director Steve Blatch said he was aware of the proposal, and had “not dismissed it out of hand”. But the council had made the developer aware of a “substantial number of policy issues”, such as being well outside the town centre retail area and close to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.” Tesco's plans, to be revealed tomorrow, aim to overcome concerns - centred on the potential damage to the existing vibrant town centre, and attacks on its bland design - which saw its original scheme rejected by planners and a government inspector on appeal. The company has reduced the size of sales floor space by a quarter, making it similar to the its store at Aylsham.
HOW THE STORES COMPARE
Greenhouse Country Store
1,500 sq m of retail space
would employ 130 staff
orders, made by phone or on-line, delivered by electric vehicles
locally-sourced products used where possible.
a café could be an attraction itself on the coast road
would not sell books, clothes, electrical goods or ironmonger in a bid to co-exist with current traders
a minimum of 10pc of the profits to be ploughed back into a charitable trust to help local causes
An exhibition outlining the green store plans will be held in Sheringham, at the old Lloyds Bank building, on April 7-9, from 8am to 8pm.

Tesco
1,200-1,250 sq m retail space
would offer a “good range of food and groceries, with a very limited selection of other goods”
new plans aim to improve the design and pick up on local architecture
revised plans could also move the store closer to Station Road to strengthen linked walking trips to the town centre
fuller details will be revealed at an exhibition being held at the Oddfellows Hall on Lifeboat Plain, behind the Crown pub on the seafront, on Friday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Tesco seeks smaller store at Sheringham

Tesco is looking to make its proposed supermarket at Sheringham about a quarter smaller than its previous plans. Revised ideas for the controversial scheme are being revealed at a public exhibition in the town on Friday and Saturday. The company says the latest plan, for about 1,200 sq m of sales space rather then the original 1,500, would mean it was a similar size to the store at Aylsham. And the position of the store could change, with an option to put it close to Station Road in a move to attract visitors to the rest of Sheringham's shops. Tesco has brought in award-winning architects to take a fresh look at the plans after rejection by planners and a government inspector, centred on concerns it would damage the vitality of the town centre and reservations over the bland design. Emerging new planning blueprints favour a 750 sq m store, but Tesco have always said a larger one was needed to stop people driving out of the area to do their weekly shop. The company stresses the new store would offer a “good range of food and groceries for the main food shopping trip, with a very limited selection of other goods, reflecting views on the previous plans.” Tesco spokesman Nick Gellatly said: "It's clear there are many people that would like a local Tesco. Our new architects, Wilkinson Eyre, have started from scratch to design a better store that will bring value, choice and convenience to local residents. “The official decision on our last proposal also confirmed that Sheringham needs a supermarket but that it should be smaller than our previous plans. We also know the store must be big enough to attract new visitors to town.” Members of the public can see the new plans and talk to Tesco representatives at the Oddfellows Hall on Lifeboat Plain, behind the Crown pub on the seafront, on Friday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Further information is also available from www.sheringhamtesco.co.uk

Tesco to reveal new plans for Norfolk store

Tesco will reveal its fresh thinking for a store at Sheringham when it visits the town in early April.The company, which has been battling to build a store in the town for more than a decade, is hatching a new scheme after refusal by councillors, backed by a planning inspector, of its earlier bid. Opposition to the store centred on concerns it would harm the vitality of the existing town centre, while its design on the Cromer Road gateway into town was considered bland. Tesco has gone back to the drawing board and hired award-winning architects Wilkinson Eyre, whose creations include Gateshead's stunning winking eye Millennium Bridge on Tyneside. New sketches, reflecting the history and character of Sheringham, will be on display at an exhibition. Tesco spokesman Nick Gellatly said: "We want the new Tesco store to play a really positive role in the life of Sheringham and the next step in this is to discuss the emerging plans with everyone who has an interest." I am looking forward to hearing from the community and discussing our proposals in detail. Whilst we have already had an encouraging response to the news of a new foodstore proposal, I hope that as many people as possible will drop in to give us their views and hear about the improved plans."Members of the Tesco team will be available to explain and discuss the plans and the consultation will record people's comments for use in shaping the plans. Townsfolk have been split over the Tesco store bid, with some people welcoming the move and the company saying it would stop people heading out of town for their weekly shop as well as bringing in spin-off extra trade. But a vocal "anti" campaign has opposed the store's size, siting, design and impact on coast road traffic. Tesco has said the store will be smaller than the originally planned 1,500 sq m, but a spokesman could not say at this stage what size it would be.The exhibition will be on Friday, April 3, 10am-8pm and Saturday, April 4, 10am-3pm at the Oddfellows Hall on Lifeboat Plain. Anyone with an interest or wishing to comment can find out more by emailing info@sheringhamtesco.co.uk

Come on Sheringham- tell Tesco what you want.

Tesco have said they are happy to discuss thoughts about a store in Sheringham, just email info@sheringhamtesco.co.uk

Now's your chance, don't say you weren't asked!

Tesco urged to talk to locals over store

A “talk to the locals” plea has been sent to Tesco as it redraws its controversial plans for a store at Sheringham. The message comes from the top officer at North Norfolk District Council, which has taken the usual step of making its feelings known in an open letter to Tesco's boss. But it crossed in the e-mail post with a press release from Tesco saying they had already been talking to the locals, hundreds of whom were in favour of a new store. The exchange however has highlighted the fierce divide caused by the saga, with anti big store protestors saying Tesco's claims were meaningless because they did not seek views on the size and location of the supermarket. Council chief executive Philip Burton today called on the retailer to consult a wide cross section of people including opponents and supporters of their scheme. The move follows Tesco's recent announcement they were going back to the drawing board, and hiring award-winning architects to devise a smaller and better looking store on the Cromer Road following years of applications, debates, decisions and appeals that has split local opinion. In the letter penned to Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy and copied to the local media, Mr Burton said the council had been approached by a number of community representatives asking how they could contribute to the development of the plans during their formative stages. The council encouraged Tesco to engage directly with local community organisations in the development of revised proposals in the hope that a “stronger degree of community support might be secured for any new proposal.” He hoped Tesco would see the “positive benefits” of such an approach. Explaining the move Mr Burton said there was a requirement for Tesco to engage with the community as part of the planning process, but it was felt that, because of the controversial nature of the proposals, there was a need to start earlier than when draft plans were on the table. It was taking the initiative however in its role as community leaders. Tesco spokesman Nick Gellatly said the company was “delighted” to receive the letter as it was “vital the voice of Sheringham people is heard in this debate”. He added that Tesco would be happy to discuss its thoughts with any community organisation or “individual of good will” who could contact him by e-mailing info@sheringhamtesco.co.uk It came as the company announced that 1,200 people - 900 responding to a local leaflet and 300 signing up to a We Want Tesco in Sheringham site on the Facebook social networking internet site - supported a new supermarket. But Eroica Mildmay, chairman of the Sheringham Campaign Against Major Retail Overdevelopment, said the claim was misleading as the question only asked if people favoured a new supermarket.“So do we, but the devil is in the detail of where the location and size. It's like offering a snake and not saying whether it is a harmless grass snake or a venomous viper,” she added.

Tesco rethink on Stalham plans

Tesco has dropped plans to double the size of its Stalham store shortly before the controversial scheme looked set to be turned down by councillors. The retail giant says the move comes after listening to advice from planning officers, and that it was confident a revised project would provide all the benefits of a larger store while addressing local concerns. It comes less than three weeks after Tesco also announced it was scaling down its equally controversial plans at Sheringham in a bid to find an acceptable solution to a long-running saga. In both towns opponents said a large store would damage the vitality of the existing town centre. At Stalham Tesco originally wanted to double the size of its 1,300 sq m store and up the number of car parking spaces from 189 to 362, move the petrol station and re-jig the entrance road to the supermarket and town. The scheme has already been back to the drawing board once for changes to the road junction after a consultation two years ago. This Thursday the latest plans were being recommended for refusal by North Norfolk District Council's east area development control committee because “the scale, layout and design would have an adverse impact on the character of the town,” along with concerns about road safety and flood risk. But Tesco spokesman Nick Gellatly todayconfirmed they were being withdrawn and an amended scheme would be submitted later this spring. He explained: “We have listened carefully to the advice of the council's officers.“It has been suggested that the design of the extension could be adjusted to reduce the apparent bulk of the building. We want to work up a scheme that is capable of reaching a consensus here. The amendments will also address issues relating to the scale of the extended store which the council's retail consultants have recently raised. We are confident that a revised proposal will continue to provide all of the benefits of a larger store but will also address concerns that have been raised by the council's officers and advisers”.Town council chairman Tony Ross-Benham welcomed a re-think on the plans. His council was among those with concerns about the impact if the larger store, and he hoped Tesco would this time listen to the main reasons for disquiet rather than just tinkering with some of the traffic measures which happened after the last consultation.“There is a need for more stock and choice, but it was too big. We would consider plans for a smaller store,” he added.

Opposition mounts to Tesco Stalham plans

Plans to build north Norfolk's largest supermarket in the district's second smallest town will face a mountain of opposition, both from local people and the authorities, at a key meeting next week. Tesco's desire to more than double the size of its Stalham store has been in the public domain since 2006, but a planning meeting on Thursday is the first decision making meeting on the matter. The presence of Tesco in Stalham has been a hot topic ever since the original store opened in 2002. Debate about how exactly much impact the store has had on neighbouring town traders has been vociferous. The extension plans would increase the total size of the store to 5,133 sq m, although it is the retail floor space increasing from 1,400 to 3,070 sq m which has caused the most alarm among local traders - especially as the majority of the new space will be taken up by non-food 'comparison' goods such as clothes and electrical items. Concerns set to be raised at Thursday's meeting will come from a host of directions and will include a view from Great Yarmouth Borough Council that a Stalham expansion, allied with potential expansion at the chain's Caister store, could lead to “a major impact” on shops as far way as Repps with Bastwick, Potter Heigham, Martham and Rollesby. The decision rests with the east area development control committee at North Norfolk District Council, who will hear objection from Stalham Town Council, CPRE Norfolk, the Stalham with Happing Partnership, their own officers, Norfolk County Council highways experts and the Environment Agency. There has been some support of the plans, with parish councils in the area split in their view, with some in favour and some against. If the new supermarket gets the go ahead, it will be bigger than the North Walsham branch of Sainsbury, the Morrison stores in Cromer and Fakenham and the Tesco in Fakenham. The plans include a major rejig of the road layout of the A149, including the construction of a new roundabout. Council officers will recommend Thursday's committee to refuse the plans because:
The scale of the development is unacceptable on retail policy grounds
The scale, layout and design would have an adverse impact on the character of the town and adjacent conservation area
The proposals fail to fully address highway safety and flood risk, while also failing to provide an adequate travel plan
Other issues for discussion will include the fact the expansion land is currently designated as an employment area, whereas supermarket land needs permission for retail use.

Tesco draw up new plans for Sheringham store

Tesco is poised to draw up fresh plans for a smaller and better-looking store at Sheringham in a bid to win its long-running battle to build a supermarket there. Its previous scheme was rejected by local councillors and a government planning inspector who felt it would damage the viability of the existing town centre. But the retail giant has appointed an award-winning architect - famous for creating the Gateshead “winking eye” Millennium Bridge on Tyneside - in a fresh twist to a saga which has split local opinion. Tesco confirmed the new store would be smaller than the original 1,500 sq m, but said it was too early to say how big it would be. Emerging planning blueprints suggest a 750 sq m store would better suit the town's needs. Company spokesman Nick Gellatly said the change of tack was a bid to provide Sheringham with the store it needed as quickly as possible. Tesco has challenged the planning inspector's findings through the high court, but a hearing was not due until this summer, and if successful, a new inquiry could take more than a year. It was hoped fresh plans, which sought to answer some of the concerns raised at the inquiry over size and design, could be tabled with North Norfolk District by June.
No decision had yet been made on size, but Tesco's appointment of Wilkinson Eyre Architects showed they were doing their best to provide Sheringham with the best possible store. And he felt there was continued demand for a value store, particularly in the current economic downturn. It was the first time the company had used the top designers for a store, and they would be handed a blank sheet of paper in an attempt to come up a plan that suited the town and surroundings. The previous plan was branded “mundane, poor and characterless” by the inspector. Mr Gellatly said the company had listened to concerns, and wanted to the hear the voice of the “real people of Sheringham who were put off by people waving banners” last time. One of those banner wavers, opponent Eroica Mildmay, of the Sheringham Campaign Against Major Retail Overdevelopment, said they would be looking carefully at the plans, and remained on “red alert.”There was not currently enough detail, including the proposed size, to make a full assessment. Locals felt a logical step for Tesco would be to use the closed Woolworths store at the heart of, rather than on the edge of, the town centre. And Scamrod was alarmed by Tesco's tendency to try to double the size of stores they had already built at places such as Stalham, Watton and Dereham.“You can never tell with Tesco what is really going on. It is very smoke and mirrors,” she added. Supporters of the store plan - which would create more than 120 local jobs, as well as a new community centre and fire station - welcomed the news of fresh plans. Pam Blyth of the Pro Tesco group said she was “delighted Tesco has decided to show faith in Sheringham”. People were crying out for a store in the downturn, and she hoped “the community and local families whose voices have not been heard in the past will give it their backing.”Student Jono Read, creator of the We Want a Tesco in Sheringham Facebook group, said: “I started the group because I know that lots of young people in the area want a new supermarket and supported the plans. We were all very angry and disappointed when they were rejected.” Wilkinson Eyre has won two prestigious Stirling Prizes from the Royal Institute of British Architects in consecutive years, firstly for transforming a redundant steelworks in Rotherham into the UK's first Science Adventure Centre, followed, in 2002 by the unique Gateshead crossing for pedestrians and cyclists over the River Tyne. Director Jim Eyre said the Sheringham store was “an exciting challenge” to be asked to create a bespoke design for a new store that related to other shops.“We are carefully considering the character of the town as the plans are developed. It is obvious from what we have heard informally from Sheringham people that they care for their town a great deal. This is a very important site and we would like it to live up to its obvious potential,” he added.

Woolworths closure could save Sheringham

Towns across north Norfolk are bracing themselves for the loss of their Woolworths shops as the familiar high street name heads towards closure. Across the country the retail giant - a year short of its centenary - is facing the shutdown of up to 800 stores and loss of 30,000 jobs after no one was prepared to take on the chain of shops and its £380m debt. Locally, the figures are smaller but the impact just as big. The loss of the long-standing stores would result in the loss of scores of jobs across towns in north Norfolk - at Cromer, North Walsham, Sheringham - and leave gaping holes in prime shopping locations. North Norfolk District Council spokesman for economic matters Clive Stockton said: “Woolworths has been part of the genetic make-up of small towns for nearly 100 years.“It loss is not just economic, it is psychological, and yet another blow to things we thought were stable, like post offices and the banks.” The council would step in where it could to help people who lost their jobs with matters such as preparing a CV and finding new skills through learning centres, but otherwise there was little it could do, he added. Woolworths sites were too big for small, private retailers and too small for larger national chains such as Marks and Spencer. And having them turned into supermarkets might not necessarily be what was needed for every town centre. At Sheringham, however, it might provide a solution to the long-running battle to find a suitable site for a larger supermarket in town. Tesco's decade-long battle to build a new store is awaiting the company's high court challenge of a government inspector's decision to uphold refusal of planning permission. One of the problems has been the lack of suitable more central sites, but if the Woolworths store becomes available it could add a new twist to that particular debateChamber of Trade chairman Janet Farrow said: “Woolworths is an institution. It would be sad to see them go from the High Street but it seems inevitable. But there could be a silver lining for the town, if a grocery store could go in there. It is too soon to jump in just yet, but it is something we would be proactive on - and would alert supermarket companies, including Tesco, to the availability.”

Why Tesco is appealing store decision

Tesco is questioning the logic of a planning inspector who threw out its plans for a store at Sheringham, it has emerged. And if the retail giant succeeds in getting the appeal decision quashed, it is likely to result in another public inquiry in front of a different inspector. North Norfolk district councillors, whose refusal of the store was upheld by planning inspector Christina Davies, have been told that Tesco's challenge of the result runs to 19 pages, supported by “voluminous” copies of documents tabled at the last inquiry which ran for three weeks in August. In a briefing to the full council, leader Virginia Gay said the main points of Tesco's appeal against the outcome were: The inspector's findings over the need for further retail floorspace were illogical and irrational. Not enough weight was given to proposed changes to the govern-ment's planning guidelines over town centres, while too much was given to a policy in the district's Local Development Framework core strategy. The inspector's findings and reasoning on potential “disaggrega-tion” of retail provision were illogical. She failed to have proper regard to design changes for the proposed store. There was a failure to undertake a proper “balancing exercise” which would have weighed in favour of approval. Tesco has been battling for more than a decade to build a store on the Cromer Road, which it says will stop people having to drive to other towns for their main weekly shop, and would help Sheringham with spin-off trade. The plans have split the town, but opponents, including a local campaign, town council and chamber of trade, all say it will permanently harm the vitality of the existing town centre - one of the main reasons cited for throwing out the plans in the appeal result. After studying the inquiry findings, Tesco has now decided to fight on with its project, which would also see Sheringham's community centre and fire station relocated. Mrs Gay said the challenge was unlikely to be heard at the high court until mid 2009 because of a backlog of planning cases. If Tesco won, the appeal would be sent back to the planning inspect-orate, and would be likely to see another inquiry in front of a new inspector. Council spokesman Nick Manthorpe later added that any new inquiry might mean freshening evidence, but was unlikely to involve the £200,000 cost of the last one, as much of the work would have already been done.

Sheringham Tesco hearing to take months

A final resolution to the Sheringham Tesco saga looks set to be nine months away - and could be longer if the legal process drags out. Tesco bosses confirmed last night that they were expecting their high court hearing to take place towards the middle of next year and explained the legislation under which they would launch the challenge. As reported in yesterday's EDP, the company has promised to challenge the planning inspector's decision to refuse its application for a 1,500sq m store in the resort. As people at Sheringham digested yesterday's news, Tesco spokesman Nick Gellatly said: “We expect the hearing to take place towards the middle of next year.” He also revealed that the company was launching its appeal under Section 228 of the Planning Act. This meant there was no need to launch a two-stage process of initially obtaining leave to appeal and then going on to a full hearing; instead it would be possible to go straight to the full hearing, said Mr Gellatly. Eroica Mildmay, of the Sheringham Campaign Against Major Retail Overdevelopment (Scamrod), said she felt Tesco bosses were taking a risky stance. She said the precedent of land-slide 17-0 support among members of North Norfolk District Council development control committee and the planning inspector's careful and detailed report, both in favour of the campaign against Tesco, meant there was every good reason to believe the Tesco court action could fail. She added: “People I have spoken to since the news of the high court action broke have been appalled and disappointed.”

Tesco to challenge Sheringham decision

The battle over plans for a Tesco store in Sheringham took a dramatic new twist last night as the supermarket giant vowed to challenge the decision to refuse its application for a store in the resort. Tesco executives have announced they will take a government inspector to court over a flagship ruling which blocked them from building a new supermarket in the coastal town. The move provoked an angry reaction from campaigners who described branded Tesco's stance as “bullying.”The decision to take the case to the High Court will extend the now infamous Sheringham battle by several more months and looks set to cost the taxpayer tens thousands of pounds. The retail giant was told last month that its drawn out attempts to build a 1,500 sq m supermarket in the town would harm the “vitality and viability” of the community, which prides itself on its range of independent traders. But Tesco bosses have insisted there is an “undisputed need” for the new store and will argue that inspector Christina Downes' decision did not match up with the evidence presented at the July inquiry. The Sheringham Tesco saga began in the mid 1990s when the company showed interest in building a store on the old Hilbre School site on Holway Road.Last night campaigner Eroica Mildmay, of Sheringham Campaign Against Mass Retail Overdevelopment (Scamrod) said the court action proved Tesco was a “bullying and ruthless” company.“I think it's astounding you can't say 'no' to Tesco for valid reasons.“This will cement their reputation for bullying and squeezing every last drop of life blood out of a community.“In my wildest dreams I thought they might have a bit of humility, a modicum of decency. But no.” And Richard Hewitt, a town councillor and planning solicitor, said he was disappointed to hear of the court action.“I would have hoped Tesco would have respected the inspector's decision,” said Mr Hewitt.“That decision last month generated quite a lot of good feeling in the town about looking forwards and getting the right solution for the town - in other words a smaller supermarket than that Tesco was proposing.“There is general agreement in the town that we need something smaller, sensitive and complimentary to the town.” Pam Blyth, of campaign group Protesc, said: “Wow, I am delighted, this has made my day.“I am absolutely thrilled and so will a lot of people be in Sheringham.“The town desperately needs a large supermarket - look at Aylsham with its new Tesco and the large Budgens which has been there for years.“We have thousands of people coming to our town and they have nowhere large enough to shop.“You won't believe how many people have written or contacted me since the inspector's September decision to say how much they wanted a supermarket.”Nick Gellatly, Tesco's regional corporate affairs manager said: “A new Tesco in Sheringham would provide a supermarket in the town centre, for which - as the inspector outlines in her report - there is an undisputed need.“The report also recognises Cromer Road as the best location for a supermarket. That view is supported by North Norfolk District Council officers who originally recommended this proposal.“We are challenging the inspector's decision to refuse planning permission on the grounds of size and design because these were not borne out by the evidence presented at the inquiry.“Sheringham needs a new supermarket. I've spoken to a lot of Sheringham people who have told me that not only will a new Tesco store give them choice but it will bring competition to the town while allowing them to do their main food shop locally.“Shoppers will no longer be forced to leave the town to feed the family each week whilst a new, free, town centre car park will encourage people back to the town all year round. That will be good news for everyone.” District council spokesman Nick Manthorpe said last night: “Without knowing what Tesco's grounds of appeal are it is hard to take a view.“As far as we can see, this is now between Tesco and the Planning Inspectorate.” Tesco will now undertake a two stage process. Firstly they will have to apply for leave to appeal, which will require them to prove they have basic merit in their case. If they are granted this permission, they will then proceed to a full High Court hearing.