Midland Road, North Walsham. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Tesco confirms interest in Midland Road, North Walsham, site as Waitrose announces “overwhelming” support for its planned Cromer Road, North Walsham, store

by Alex Hurrell , Reporter Thursday, February 9, 2012
7:00 AM

Tesco has confirmed that it is interested in opening a supermarket in North Walsham.

The news came after developers last week shocked the town with plans to pursue a store project on Midland Road.

But this week it also emerged there does not yet appear to be a definite site for a store, with some Midland Road businesses saying they have not been approached, one refusing to sell and others waiting for more information.

The Tesco revelation coincides with Waitrose’s announcement that the “overwhelming” majority of nearly 700 visitors to their public exhibition supported plans for a Waitrose store on the town’s Cromer Road, creating 150 jobs.

A Tesco spokesman told the News this week that they were “interested” in Midland Road. She said: “We are one of the operators who have been in talks with the developers, but nothing has been agreed at this stage.”

However, a separate statement from the developers on Tuesday confirmed that they are only talking to a single supermarket.

A spokesman for the property firm, Petros and Hartfield Developments, said: “We are in serious discussions with one major retailer and hope to make an announcement shortly; we are determined to get the best option for this important site.”

The Midland Road scheme would create up to 200 jobs and include investment in town centre improvements.

They stress their site would be closer to the town centre than Waitrose’s plan to convert the former Focus DIY store.

Andrea Canham, secretary of 1st North Walsham Scouts, whose headquarters and surrounding land are at the northern end of Midland Road, said she had been phoned out-of-the-blue by the developers recently while she was dishing up tea to her family.

They had said they would be back in touch with more details and to arrange a meeting.

The scouts are fund-raising to build a new base but chairman Chris Hargest said any decision to sell would probably have to be taken by the church which is understood to have gifted the land to the scouts.

Nick Hindle, at nearby Perfitt and Paynes stonemasons, said they and neighbouring Jackson and Starling funeral directors had had an initial approach from the developers. Any decision would be made by the Rackham family which owned both businesses, said Mr Hindle.

Nigel Horner-Glister, has said he had made a “clear refusal” of the developers’ offer for the former Horners’ auction site and buildings.

At Roger Hannant Motor Services spokesman Peter Bygraves said: “As yet we know nothing about it.” Mark Jackson, a business partner with Andrew Kerry in Kerry’s Flooring, said: “I certainly haven’t heard anything and neither has my colleague Andrew. They have not approached us.

“I would think they would have problems here with access to the road,” he added.

And at the southern end of the road Peter Spence, owner of JDT door suppliers, said: “We haven’t been approached.”

Waitrose hopes to submit a planning application for its 21,000 sq ft store by the end of the month.

A total of 693 people attended last week’s two-day public exhibition in the town on the scheme. To date 625 comment forms had been returned of which 602 had indicated outright support for the proposals, and 23 support with reservations, said a spokesman.

The project team was currently assessing the feedback received and would then submit an application. If successful, Waitrose aimed to start the eight-week programme to convert the store in late summer and open in October.

James Gilhooley, Waitrose head of property, said: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the feedback we have received, which suggests there is genuine excitement about Waitrose coming to North Walsham.”

He added: “It is in our shared interests to create a vibrant town centre where local trade can flourish and we believe this would be a great opportunity to bring more shoppers to North Walsham.”

Latest News

14 comments

Just a quick thought how many of you shop at Sainsburys!!!!!!

Report this comment

Julie Read

Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I wonder if all these people on here who have left these negative comments regarding Tesco's will actually stand by their principles and not shop in Tesco's should one be open there in North Walsham. Waitrose have said they are going to create 150 new jobs, Waitrose is far more than expensive than Sainsburys. So tell me how the 150 new employees will be able to afford to shop there. If these people are worried about the Town Center becoming a Ghost Town, then therefore they are at liberty not to shop at Tesco and shop in the High Street. Nobody is being forced to shop at Tescos should one arrive.

Report this comment

Julie Read

Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Yes Where is the greengrocers? The best one, Eastmans closed down after the ceiling caved in and the electrics were condemed!!!

Report this comment

Karen Henry

Friday, February 10, 2012
Where is this 'very good' greengrocers???

Report this comment

Debbie R

Friday, February 10, 2012
Lynda Edwards - look more closely next time you visit. We still have a very good Fishmonger & an excellent Greengrocer.

Report this comment

DAVID WILLGRESS

Thursday, February 9, 2012
BOGOF Tescos!

Report this comment

DG

Thursday, February 9, 2012
There is no denying that for families and those on lower incomes the price and convenience of supermarkets is a asset. But we don't have to saturate the country with the big four groups. Look back on the 60s and 70s and see what a mess town planners made. Hope we don't look back and think what the heck were we doing killing so many small businesses and the character of our towns. Haven't councils heard the word, moderation.

Report this comment

weaversway

Thursday, February 9, 2012
Not Tesco again! This will be a death knell for an already struggling town centre, please planners actually get off your backsides and take a walk through North Walsham! Tesco will kill it dead, like Ian says they are a disease and should not be allowed in small towns, Waitrose is a much viable option, visitors to the town may think theres 'more to North Walsham than meets the eye' and venture further after spotting Waitrose on the Cromer Road. Tescos will keep customers away from the town centre!

Report this comment

Debbie R

Thursday, February 9, 2012
Not Tesco again! They're going to be in Sheringham in spite of years of opposition, and a (not if you're a councillor) local preference there for Waitrose. They're in Stalham, they're in near enough every street in Norwich. It's almost a disease. I just hope this does nothing to upset the much more desireable (see your own poll) application by Waitrose. If people are worried about effects on the existing town centre shops, this should set the alarms ringing much more than the Cromer Rd ex Focus site.

Report this comment

Ian

Thursday, February 9, 2012
several years ago Tesco had a site in Walsham, but never took it up because of the requirement to do an archialogical dig....so don't let them in again!

Report this comment

granny

Thursday, February 9, 2012
Around five years ago I travelled from Norwich to North Walsham and enjoyed the lovely local businesses which were in the Market Place ie the fishmonger, the lovely greengrocers etc. Last year I tried the same thing - the fishmonger and the greengrocers had closed. I knew Sainsbury's were on Bacton Road (although I didn't go there) but, on walking along Yarmouth Road to go to the railway station to catch the Norwich train, I realised that not only Lidl were there but Roys also. I know Roys are a Norfolk company but I then realised why the shops I had travelled from Norwich to shop at were closed. We should look after our market towns - if they have good local businesses there is no need for supermarkets.

Report this comment

Lynda Edwards

Thursday, February 9, 2012
North Walsham needs both Tesco and Waitrose. Shoppers can then choose between three supermarkets. Let the price wars commence. The only objection can come from Sainsbury's who will see their long standing monopoly vanish.

Report this comment

NigelS

Thursday, February 9, 2012
it comes down to planning not names !!

Report this comment

Double Bill

Thursday, February 9, 2012
Does every town have to be a Tesco town? Did they only want to come in after Waitrose made an application? We lost out to Waitrose in Sheringham, don't let it happen again.

Report this comment

jan foweraker

Thursday, February 9, 2012