Small traders’ joy as superstore is refused

Small traders in Chorlton are celebrating after planning chiefs threw out a bid by Tesco to open a giant superstore minutes away from the suburb. It follows a six-month campaign by businesses in the area who claim the 88,000 sq ft store, along with a 2,000 sq ft Tesco Express and customer car park, would threaten their livelihoods. The supermarket giant will now go ahead with its original plan to build a smaller 48,000 sq ft store on the same site in Stretford, next to the leisure centre on Chester Road, which it already has planning permission for.
This week a planning inspector rejected Tescos appeal finding that the larger store would result in a loss of business to local shops and an increase in traffic in the area. He also criticised the proposed design of the store describing it as "stark, crude and prominent".
Debbie Clarke, chairman of Fairtrade Chorlton, said she was delighted. She added: "They supported our view that many of our traders have tight profit margins and just a small drop in sales could mean the end for their businesses."