Tesco decision delayed again

A decision on whether or not developers will give the go-ahead to build the 70,000 square foot store had been expected this week but further discussions are expected to delay the announcement until at least October.

The superstore saga has been running for more than two years. After the Planning Appeals Committee recommended a refusal in December last year for what would have been the largest Tesco store in Ireland, developers submitted a similar application but reduced the size of the potential store by 20 per cent.

Many town traders have been actively opposed to the application since it began, claiming Banbridge will become a ghost town if the developers are given the go ahead.

But, on submitting their new application for a smaller store, the developers said they feel they have the support of many within the local community.

“After the refusal of the last application, the response by the local community made it very clear to us that the level of local support was immense and greatly outweighed the very vocal cries of a small number of local traders,” said a spokesperson for the developers.

The Leader understands there may be talks involving the possibility of building a Tesco Metro store in Dromore, but this has not been confirmed by planners or developers.