TESCO is to trade from a new store at the old Kwik Save site off Sealand Road in Chester.
Last year the supermarket giant acquired the long-term lease on the former shopping centre in Hartford Way for a reported £10m.
Now Tesco has gained planning permission for alterations to the building allowing it to trade from the 1.66 hectare site once a major refurbishment has taken place.
In recent times the only business trading within the building was frozen food store Cool Trader but following discussions with Tesco the firm has vacated the premises.
Tesco’s agent Rachel Edwards said in documents supporting the planning application: “This site has not been trading at full capacity for a substantial period of time and the existing building has a detrimental visual impact upon one of the main gateways into the city.
“Our proposals would involve bringing the store back into use.
“When completed, the proposals would facilitate the delivery of a more contemporary food store in an area of the city that is currently poorly served.”
The plans also include improving pedestrian access for people living in the nearby Garden Lane area of Chester.
The retailer says there are no issues in terms of competition law even though this is Tesco’s second outlet in Chester. Tesco says its Frodsham Street store in the city centre will continue to trade.
Planning permission for the new 4,358 square metres outlet, which will have 273 parking spaces, was relatively straightforward because the building already had an existing consent to sell food.
The centre was previously leased by Somerfield, which acquired the site in its takeover of Kwik Save in 1998.
david.holmes
