Supermarket row decision looming

4:00pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197

WORK BEGINS: Construction starting in Bicester town centre in January last year Buy this photo » WORK BEGINS: Construction starting in Bicester town centre in January last year

SAINSBURY’S will this week decide whether it will press ahead with a new superstore in Bicester after the row over a new Tesco in the town.

Bosses have threatened to stop work to fit out the store – part of a £70m town centre redevelopment – after the out-of-town Tesco got council approval.

The Sainsbury’s is currently under construction and due to open in the summer.

The supermarket chain announced plans to extend the store by up to 30 per cent to compete with the new Tesco, which will go on land opposite Bicester Village.

Cherwell District Council’s planning committee approved the Sainsbury’s extension – an internal mezzanine – on February 28.

This will boost the supermarket from 4,842 sqm retail floor space to 6,292 sqm compared to 5,151 sqm for Tesco, approved in January.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said a decision is expected this week.

He said: “The council has had a long term aspiration to encourage new investment in Bicester town centre, which we have been working in partnership with the council to deliver for a number of years.

“The redevelopment was specifically designed to create new retail and leisure facilities in the heart of Bicester, to encourage more people to use the town centre, increasing footfall and benefiting all town centre businesses.

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“It has taken many years of work to make the redevelopment possible and the approval of the Tesco and Bicester Village applications now threatens its future long term success.”

The firm warned it would consider whether to fit out the shop after Tesco was given approval by the committee on January 4. It argued the store would have a detrimental impact on the town centre and its traders.

Committee member David Hughes said of the Sainsbury’s scheme: “I think this will help with the viability and versatility of the town centre scheme.”

But Sallie Wright, 68, of Colne Close, Bicester, said the Tesco plan was needed as it would bring with it road changes to combat Bicester Village traffic.

A new roundabout is among £11m in improvements for the A41, Oxford Road and Pingle Drive.

She said of Sainsbury’s: “The increased store size is a good thing because they will encourage more people into the town centre. There is more than enough scope for Bicester to easily sustain two big supermarkets.”

Sainsbury’s is a partner with the council for the town centre plans, to include a cinema, shops, restaurants and 566 car parking spaces.

The Tesco plans were referred to Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, as they do not feature in council policies for future major development in Bicester.

The Government last week confirmed it would not be “calling in” the application to make a decision itself.

But there is a 12-week period once the council has formally issued planning permission where anyone can make a legal challenge and seek a judicial review.

Comments (10)

5:29pm Mon 11 Mar 13

snert says...

Way to go Sainsbury. This just shows you don't care about the town and the residents. It's all about the money. Throw your toys out the pram and while you're at it, just go away and let Asda come into the town in place of you
Way to go Sainsbury. This just shows you don't care about the town and the residents. It's all about the money. Throw your toys out the pram and while you're at it, just go away and let Asda come into the town in place of you snert

7:27pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Bob 1900 says...

Jason Clarke the principal of Bicester Community College will no doubt get the blame for this as well !!!
Jason Clarke the principal of Bicester Community College will no doubt get the blame for this as well !!! Bob 1900

11:31pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Severian says...

Bob 1900 wrote:
Jason Clarke the principal of Bicester Community College will no doubt get the blame for this as well !!!
I think that will be highly unlikely!
[quote][p][bold]Bob 1900[/bold] wrote: Jason Clarke the principal of Bicester Community College will no doubt get the blame for this as well !!![/p][/quote]I think that will be highly unlikely! Severian

11:38pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Severian says...

Unfortunately Sallie Wright of Colne Close - I don't see HOW the new developments will improve traffic.

To get from the north of town to Tesco you will go have to go OVER the roundabout to get into Bicester Village. And the extra parking will be negligible (since BV customers already use Tesco car park at busy times). You could of course come from the Langford Village end, but for a lot of people in town that is a long journey around the houses (especially since the level crossing on London Road will be closed for 50% of the time!)

We will just still have the same queuing to get in/out of BV as now, because there will be more shops and no more parking spaces than at present.

BUT Tesco will be worse - anyone coming out of the new Tesco and wanting to get back to Bicester will be turning RIGHT - and thus joining the BV traffic queues, so you will get bottled up in the Tesco car park.

The only other way out will be to turn LEFT out of the new Tesco, then either go to the roundabout and go all the way round the new ring road and back to town that way, or (more sensibly) turn left then immediately right at the lights and cut through the new Kinsgmere development.

I predict a riot.
Unfortunately Sallie Wright of Colne Close - I don't see HOW the new developments will improve traffic. To get from the north of town to Tesco you will go have to go OVER the roundabout to get into Bicester Village. And the extra parking will be negligible (since BV customers already use Tesco car park at busy times). You could of course come from the Langford Village end, but for a lot of people in town that is a long journey around the houses (especially since the level crossing on London Road will be closed for 50% of the time!) We will just still have the same queuing to get in/out of BV as now, because there will be more shops and no more parking spaces than at present. BUT Tesco will be worse - anyone coming out of the new Tesco and wanting to get back to Bicester will be turning RIGHT - and thus joining the BV traffic queues, so you will get bottled up in the Tesco car park. The only other way out will be to turn LEFT out of the new Tesco, then either go to the roundabout and go all the way round the new ring road and back to town that way, or (more sensibly) turn left then immediately right at the lights and cut through the new Kinsgmere development. I predict a riot. Severian

8:15pm Tue 12 Mar 13

steve1955 says...

I cannot wait for the reaction of sainsburys and all its supporters if tesco get the permission?
Will we see the councillors /sainsburys board and their local supporters sit in front of the bulldozers when the new store site is cleared,
I cannot wait for the reaction of sainsburys and all its supporters if tesco get the permission? Will we see the councillors /sainsburys board and their local supporters sit in front of the bulldozers when the new store site is cleared, steve1955

10:46pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Bob 1900 says...

Severian wrote:
Bob 1900 wrote:
Jason Clarke the principal of Bicester Community College will no doubt get the blame for this as well !!!
I think that will be highly unlikely!
Dont be so sure !
[quote][p][bold]Severian[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Bob 1900[/bold] wrote: Jason Clarke the principal of Bicester Community College will no doubt get the blame for this as well !!![/p][/quote]I think that will be highly unlikely![/p][/quote]Dont be so sure ! Bob 1900

11:49am Wed 13 Mar 13

Nick Mawer says...

I understand that Sainsburys have now given the go ahead for the store fit out.
I understand that Sainsburys have now given the go ahead for the store fit out. Nick Mawer

12:03pm Wed 13 Mar 13

steve1955 says...

Will they fill the store or can we all see empty shelfs if Tescos get permission the plot thickens?
As a councillor does mr mawr know permission has been granted or understand? rather unusual statement
Will they fill the store or can we all see empty shelfs if Tescos get permission the plot thickens? As a councillor does mr mawr know permission has been granted or understand? rather unusual statement steve1955

12:39pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Severian says...

steve1955 wrote:
Will they fill the store or can we all see empty shelfs if Tescos get permission the plot thickens?
As a councillor does mr mawr know permission has been granted or understand? rather unusual statement
Sainsburys has been given permission to extend the inside of the town centre store.

Tesco has been given permission to build the new store on the other side of the ring road.

What we are waiting to be confirmed is that Sainsbury's will go ahead and complete and open their store, but also that they won't ask for a Judicial Review of the decision to grant permission to the Tesco/BV proposals.
[quote][p][bold]steve1955[/bold] wrote: Will they fill the store or can we all see empty shelfs if Tescos get permission the plot thickens? As a councillor does mr mawr know permission has been granted or understand? rather unusual statement[/p][/quote]Sainsburys has been given permission to extend the inside of the town centre store. Tesco has been given permission to build the new store on the other side of the ring road. What we are waiting to be confirmed is that Sainsbury's will go ahead and complete and open their store, but also that they won't ask for a Judicial Review of the decision to grant permission to the Tesco/BV proposals. Severian

6:00pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Nick Mawer says...

Severian is completely correct, and now we all know that Sainsburys will be opening this summer - with full shelves.
Severian is completely correct, and now we all know that Sainsburys will be opening this summer - with full shelves. Nick Mawer

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