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Store plan gets the go-ahead

Alice McKeegan
27/ 9/2008

PLANS to revamp a Rochdale supermarket have been given the go-ahead.

An application to redevelop Tesco at Sudden was unanimously approved by members of the Rochdale Township planning sub-committee on Tuesday.

The supermarket’s planners were given the green light to raise the building above the ground on stilts to provide car parking spaces underneath.

The store, which will be open 24 hours a day, is expected to close for around nine months but Tesco bosses have reassured staff that there will be no job losses.

It says that workers will be able to relocate to an alternative store and will be given the option to return to the Rochdale branch when the work is finished. No date for the redevelopment has been announced.

Two letters were received from Peacock and Smith Ltd, on behalf of Morrisons supermarket, expressing concerns that the application could reduce trade in Heywood.

Sebastian Tibenham, on behalf of Tesco, rejected the suggestions and claimed that the redevelopment would boost business.

He said: "Over the past year we have been working to develop what we feel would be a much better store.

"The existing store opened in 1974 and is practically ancient in supermarket terms.

"It is simply too small and the new store will provide a modern and less stressful shopping experience."

The redevelopment plans do not currently incorporate a petrol station, but Tesco said it will not rule out including one in the future.

Tesco bosses have also agreed to pay £500,000 to support environmental improvements to Yorkshire Street and are offering £200,000 towards a new bus lane by the store.

Following a public consultation last September, 2,524 out of 3,000 customers voted ‘yes’ to a replacement store, which will provide an extra 394 metres of floorspace for convenience goods.

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