Gazette News

New store can be built in Ilkley, says planning inspector

Exclusive By Jonathan Redhead

11:41am Friday 3rd September 2010

Supermarket giant Tesco will be allowed to build a new store in Ilkley after winning a controversial planning appeal, it has been revealed today.

Government planning inspector Harold Stephens has delivered his verdict on the long-running saga and backed Tesco after the public eight-day appeal in July, despite strong opposition from Bradford Council and residents’ group Ilkley Residents Against Tesco Expansion (Irate).

Matthew Magee, Tesco regional corporate affairs manager, said: "We are naturally pleased with the decision of the inspector.

"We never take the decision to appeal lightly but in this case we had always felt that there was a strong case for our improved store and that the town would benefit from the investment and the increased footfall. The inspector’s decision confirms that.

"We look forward to offering a wider range of great products for our customers and creating so many new jobs for the local area."

The decision will come as a bitter blow to Irate, who had secured thousands of signatures against the plans for a huge new store on Mayfield Road and the transformation of the current store on Springs Lane into a care home and retail units.

But the victory for Tesco, who had initially seen their plans rejected by the council, means work could soon start on the projects.

During the planning appeal, the council said the plans for a new supermarket were contrary to planning policy, and the care home proposals were refused on the grounds of loss of retail land.

Irate said Tesco had refused to listen to the "overwhelming voice of public opinion" in pushing through with the plans and claimed Ilkley town centre could be ruined by the proposals.

However, Tesco’s lawyer said ‘the boxes for general economic development are ticked’ by the plans.

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