Tesco plans rejected
9:44am Friday 29th August 2008
Plans for Tesco to extend its Pingle Drive store in Bicester were last night rejected by planners at Cherwell District Council.
A decision on whether the supermarket giant could expand its flagship store next to Bicester Village was refused by the council's planning committee, who said allowing out-of-town shopping when the need could be met in the town centre was likely to undermine the viability and vitality of the town centre.
Proposals for the 17-year-old store included plans to close its Metro store in Sheep Street and add more floor space to its flagship site.
The supermarket giant also wanted permission to build a double-decker car park to hold 548 cars and revamp the petrol station.
A council spokesman said: "The application was refused based on the recommendations set out in the report.
"Essentially, this is because it is contrary to national and local policy on protecting town centres, and Tesco has not provided a package of associated infrastructure contributions, eg: no money to improve the road network.
"If the need for increased shopping facilities are met out of town it could undermine the willingness of developers to go ahead with the proposed town centre scheme."
Tesco said that the store would be greatly improved with more check-outs, wider aisles, new bus stops, additional cycle parking facilities, and an extended children's clothing range.
And it promised that it would provide a more comfortable shopping environment for its customers, with easier shelf access, better toilet facilities and a larger cafe.
A spokesman for Tesco said: "We are disappointed with the outcome."