Archive for October, 2009
ALL QUIET ON THE TESCO FRONT?
There is still no development in the ongoing saga of Tesco vs Co-Operative.
TESCO SAY:
“Insofar as Stirchley is concerned, the City Council has said that it will not be completing the S106 Planning Agreement the Co-op needs to secure the release of its planning permission.
The Council has concluded that the Co-op does not have sufficient interest in the site (ownership) to justify entering into a binding legal agreement. The Council has also resumed discussions with Tesco and we hope now to be able to make progress in respect of both the acquisition of City Council land (the Community Centre and Indoor Bowls Centre) and the scheme itself (we will need to re-open discussions with the Planning Department and community stakeholders in due course).”
CO-OP/HELICAL RETAIL SAY:
“As you will be aware Midlands Co-op along with development partners Helical Retail have submitted plans for a mixed use retail scheme in Sitchley and are awating a decision from the Cty Council. Similarly Tesco have also submitted an application for a new superstore on the same site and only one of the two schemes will be granted planning permission.
As part of our ongoing community consultation programme we would like to invite you [Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum] to participate in a community focus group. Establishing a focus group consisting of a resprentative cross section of the Stirchley area will allow us to understand the views of the wider community on what they consider to be the needs and priorities for the regeneration of the local community.”
So it’s all still as confusing as ever. What is certain is that this battle has stalled real regeneration in Stirchley for years.
