Tesco have submitted a planning application for an enlarged 49,000 sq.ft store on their Ware Road site.

The proposed store is over twice the size of the existing outlet and would cover the entire site. The plan also features 54 homes, a cafe and a community facility.

The plans come a year after rival supermarket Sainsbury's held an exhibition to show off their designs for a supermarket on the old brewery site in Hartham Lane. However, those plans were withdrawn after planning officers recommended refusal.

Earlier in the year, Tesco held an exhibition and consultation in the store car park, following which they made a number of changes to their original plans, resulting in the current application.

Hertford Residents Against Tesco Expansion called the new store "a monstrous unsympathetic eyesore in our county town".

Whilst the store is over twice the existing size, the number of car parking spaces is only 50 per cent more. A third of the store will be given over to non-food items.

The plans are available to view at the council's offices at Wallfields. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposal has until Friday 15th August to register their views.

Hertford is currently served by three supermarkets. In addition to Tesco, there is also a Waitrose and M&S Simply Food.

Have your say and tell us what you think about Tesco's plans.

More computer generated images of the new store.

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