Green light for £40m Tesco

The retail giant want to knock down their existing store at the Altnagelvin roundabout and replace it with a new state-of-the-art building.

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey welcomed the Minister’s approval of the plans which he estimated could create up to 200 new jobs.

He said: “I am delighted that my colleague Minister Alex Attwood has approved these plans this morning, which will have a huge beneficial impact on the Tesco store in the Waterside area of the city.

“This will represent over £40 million of investment by Tesco in our city, and will create up to 300 construction jobs in the process of transforming the retail unit in Lisnagelvin.

“The 200 jobs that will be created due to the investment will be a massive boost for the local economy and for local people who are struggling to find stable employment in these difficult times.

“I want to wholeheartedly welcome the confidence Tesco have shown in our city and I am sure this news will represent a sustainable boost for customers and workers in the long term.”

Late last year Foyle MLA William Hay told the Sentinel he was hopeful of a positive outcome and said it would be a major boost for the Waterside area if it got the go ahead.

“It’s with the planners at the moment. It will create an additional 120/130 new jobs with the jobs that are already there. “These are mostly full-time Tesco jobs. It will also create work for the construction industry as well. 100 jobs or even more,” he said.

Mr Hay explained that the supermarket giant will have to re-locate for 18 months until the new store is completed and that progress may hinge on the success of a separate application for another Tesco store at Buncrana Road.