Supermarket Expansion

Plans for a new Sainsbury's supermarket in Hartham Lane and an enlarged Tesco in Ware Road have been called in by The Secretary of State.

Both developments will now be considered together at a Public Enquiry later in the year.

Hertford Town Council and local residents had lobbied the government to review both plans, supported by Hertford Civic Society

Tesco's application for a large store to replace the existing supermarket in Ware Road were unanimously rejected by The District Council last year. However, Sainsbury's plan for a modest store on the Brwery site were controversially approved by one vote at the beginning of the year. Both plans faced opposition from some local groups. However, traders in St.Andrew Street were in broad support of Sainsbury;s plansm, whilst recognising the traffic issues thrown up by the development.

Background

For the last twenty years Tesco's only competition in the town has been Waitrose and more recently Marks and Spencer. But in February 2007 Sainsbury's bought part of the town's old brewery and in 2008 submitted plans for a supermarket on the west of town, which were initialy rejected. However, a second planning application later in the year was approved at the beginning of 2009.

Under threat from a major competitor, Tesco revealed plans for an enlarged store, twice the size of the existing outlet. The plans would see the entire Ware Road site redeveloped and a new 44,000sq.ft store surrounded by housing built in place of the current store, which was built in the late eighties.

Both companies held exhibitions at The Corn Exchange to show off their plans to the public. Sainsbury's initial proposals drew particular criticism because of the limited access for traffic, whilst Tesco's plans have been branded overdevelopment. Other criticisms include the fact that Sainsbury's representatives at the exhibition seemed to have been poorly briefed on the area, whilst Tesco's plans were judged to be a knee-jerk reaction with little detail.

Here's how the plans compare:

Sainsburys		Tesco
New store on the former bottling plant and lorry park on the north bank of the River Lea		Rebuilt store on existing site
Proposed area 25,000 sq.ft.		Proposed sales area 48,826 sq.ft. Existing sales area is 23,936 sq.ft.
Proposed parking spaces 240		Proposed parking spaces 427 Existing spaces 283
Pedestrian link and footbridge to Bull Plain Regeneration of vacant and unattractive part of town and restoration of listed Victorian brewery 400 new jobs Space for community and commercial uses Landscaping will encourage access to river bank Working with statutory authorities to mitigate traffic impact and scheduling of delivery traffic Additional food shopping and choice		Rooftop parking Mixed use develeopment with homes on Ware Road of up to four storeys 100 new jobs Cafe/retail area to increase community feel Redesign will enhance links with town centre Site is on principle highway network, but needs new access to avoid additional congestion Current store is dated, has limited range and is over-trading

Impression of new Tesco in Ware Road

Critics have suggested that Tesco's plans are little more than a tactic to try and limit the size of any new Sainsbury's store, pointing to the lack of detail in their exhibition and the poor quality of display materials.

Whilst the town already has three supermarkets, neither Tesco or Sainsbury's see Waitrose or Simply Food as direct competition.

Sainsbury's submitted their plans to East Herts District Council at the end of January, only to withdraw them two months later after planning officers recommended that the application be refused. Tesco have suggested that they may make a formal planning application for a new store and 50 homes in the early Summer.

Plan of new Sainsbury's store

In a separate development, Asda have revealed that they may build a new supermarket in the Ware, just two miles away, although planning is at a very early stage.

Controversial Past

Tesco's current store also caused controversy when first planned. The site was formerly the playing fields of Christ's Hospital school and featured a chapel - a well known local landmark.

Prior to this, the only supermarkets in Hertford were Waitrose, which opened in the early 80s, and a Fine Fare (latterly Gateway) in Maidenhead Street.

There are also two Co-Operatives in the town, on the Sele Farm Estate and in Bengeo.

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

See earlier coverage of this issue from 2008.

Government Backs Sainsbury's The District Council has controversially approved plans for a new store

Tesco Plans Thrown Out Tesco's plans for an enlarged store have been rejected