Rumours that The Feathers Pub (300 Barlow Moor Road) is to become a Tesco Express* seem to be true. John Leech MP forwarded an email to KCI earlier this week.

Current planning law does not require a planning application to be submitted where once there was a public house and now someone wants to open a supermarket.

Current planning law does not require disclosure of the eventual retail occupier of a unit either.  In this case a company called SEH Pub Partnership has submitted a planning application for 'external alterations to the existing public house' (ref. 921100).  The Details of the application are sparse. 

The section on vehicle parking is incomplete (no information given), reference is made to a design and access statement (not available online - was it submitted?)

The building is listed as vacant on the application and in the section on opening hours, the box marked unknown is checked. 

No written information is provided about what the alterations are on the application form. Looking at the plans these state that one of the alterations is to incorporate wall mounted (external) air conditioning units.  Bear in mind that the noise associated with air conditioning units (refridgeration) is one of the sticking points for supermarket developments because they are so noisy and affect residential amenity.

How handy then, if you can get them approved before anyone even knows that a supermarket is going to be there!  Yet here, even though no information has been provided on opening hours consent for air conditioning units has been given.

This application was submitted on 24 December 2009 and passed (as a delegated decision)on 2nd February. A Planning officer has informed us that another application is pending - for a 'non material change' to this one - which seems to want to change every element of the previous application.  Needless to say, planning officers have said that this will likely get passed as well - as they already have consent!  No details of this application were available online (1st July 2010).

In 2006, Terry Leahy claimed that Tesco would become a better neighbour,  that it "only opens stores where it is wanted by the majority of the community" (1) and that "Tesco would consult local communities 'proactively' from 2007" (2).

How is this possible when stores are developed in this way?

We will post further news on this as it emerges. If you here anything, please get in touch.

* An MEN journalist has spoken to Tesco who have confirmed that the site will be a Tesco Express (not a larger Tesco Metro).

[1] The Grocer 15/7/2006: Tesco: we only move in if the locals want us,  Rachel Barnes.

[2] The Independent 11 May 2006, Tesco tries to become a better neighbour, Susie Mesure Retail Correspondent