Fears that Tesco had axed its multi-million pound expansion plans for its Burnham-On-Sea store – and consequently pulled the plug on £300,000 of regeneration funding for the town – have been quashed this week.
The supermarket giant has confirmed exclusively to Burnham-On-Sea.com that the expansion proposals at its store in Ben Travers Way are still going ahead despite rumours circulating in recent weeks that the plans may have been shelved.
The expansion proposals were approved by district councillors exactly one year ago and will lead to an extra 1,200 square metres of shopping space being created, along with additional parking spaces.
Most importantly for Burnham-On-Sea, though, £300,000 of community funding from Tesco will be given to Burnham’s Civic Pride town centre regeneration scheme, which now appears to be safe.
The ‘community gain’ was agreed between Sedgemoor District Council and Tesco last year at the same time the planning application was approved.
Tesco spokeswoman Julie Bishop confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are still planning to open Burnham’s expanded store between March 2011 and February 2012.”
She added: “I can’t say yet when the building work will start because we are still working on the schedule, but the expansion will definitely proceed.”
“We will be phasing the construction around the seasons to ensure the building work goes ahead during a quiet period for tourism.”
The positive news was this week welcomed by regeneration bosses in Burnham, with Civic Pride Chairman Alex Turco telling Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This is good news. There had been concerns that the development might not proceed in full.”
“When the money comes in, it should be used for several town centre improvements, which are being planned around several phases.”
He added that the money is particularly welcome after the severe blow last summer when the South West Regional Development Agency decided not to award Burnham £750,000 of expected regeneration funding.
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