A Penrith town councillor has claimed that major retailer Tesco is “all over” the planning application for a proposed new convenience store on the outskirts of town.
Planning approval is being sought for the erection of a convenience store on land at Carleton Hall Farm, Penrith, which would be targeted specifically at local residents, both present and future, in the area.
After a meeting of Penrith Town Council’s planning committee was told on Monday that the operator of the store had not yet been agreed, town councillor Charlie Shepherd said: “The word Tesco appears on some of that planning documentation.
“I did not make this up, I found Tesco about five times. I don’t care, it has nothing to do with us if it is Tesco or not, but I think it is slightly disingenuous to say that it is not decided.”
Valerie Bowen, who also sits on the town council planning committee, said the “secrecy” over the plans just adds to an air of suspicion.
Nigel Glendinning, of North Lakes Estates Limited, the developer behind the proposal, said that unfortunately, due to the “commercially sensitive” nature of the proposal, nothing could be confirmed about potential operators at present.
Daniel Addis, planning consultant for the application, said: “We believe there is a demand for a convenience store at the site and discussions with national retailers has reaffirmed this.
“We recognise the importance of Penrith town centre, but we do not see the proposed convenience store as competition with the retail offering in the town centre, rather we see it as completing the overall retail offering in the area.
“We are aware that there are a number of empty retail units in Penrith, including the former Co-op, but none of these are considered suitable, not least because they are not in the catchment area that this store will serve.
“But also because they would be in direct competition with the bigger retailers in the town centre, including Morrisons.”
He added that it was important to highlight that supermarkets and convenience stores have different offerings.
“They target different people and offer different types of shopping experience,” said Mr Addis.
The meeting was told that the store’s proposed opening hours were 6am to 11pm and there would need to be a separate licensing application as it is intended to sell alcohol.
It was agreed that the town council would offer no objection to the scheme.
However, councillors said they would like to see better access for pedestrians being built to the proposed site in the form of a new pavement, a more formalised crossing closer to the shop and at least one more disabled parking space.
