AMBITIOUS plans by Tesco to extend its Extra store in Shrewsbury have been submitted to Shropshire Council.

A proposal to improve and extend the store in Harlescott by a third has been lodged with planning chiefs following a two-month public consultation.

Bosses say the extension of its flagship eco-store in Battlefield Road is a bid to cope with customer demand.

It will safeguard 420 jobs and create new part-time positions if given the go-ahead.
Sophie Akokhia, corporate affairs manager at Tesco, said: “Our application reflects many of the views expressed to us during our two-month public consultation exercise.

“In particular, local people were keen to maintain the banking services along Harlescott Lane, so we have adapted our original plans to include separate units that could be occupied by the banks, if they chose to do so.

“We have also looked hard at improving the traffic flow into the store car park from Harlescott Lane and our proposals include a new slip road coming directly into the Tesco car park.

“We would also like to create a dedicated lane off Battlefield Road for customers using the petrol station.

“Both of these ideas were widely welcomed by visitors to our public exhibition in June.”

Traders had previously expressed concern that that an extension of the store would result in a loss of trade from the town centre.

Staff from banks and office buildings along Harlescott Lane also feared they would be displaced under the move.

It comes several years after a campaign was launched by the late Councillor Eileen Sandford to protect the Lloyds TSB, HSBC, Barclays and NatWest banks and Henry Lees Solicitor after plans were first mooted to build on the land.