Tesco has this week delivered a blow to Burnham’s regeneration project by saying it will not be proceeding with the multi-million pound expansion of its Burnham-On-Sea store for at least another year.
The supermarket giant exclusively told Burnham-On-Sea.com it is ‘still committed’ to expanding its store in Ben Travers Way.
However, the Burnham store is not on its list of priority sites for expansion in the short-term.
Tesco spokeswoman Emma Heesom told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Thursday: “We are still committed to the extension of our Burnham-On-Sea store but no decision will be made on whether it goes ahead for another calendar year.”
“In September 2012 we intend to be in a position to announce what plans will be taken forward.”
We reported last month that Tesco had said it was committed to the expansion and that an announcement was due shortly, which has now been made.
The original expansion plans – which were approved by the district council two years ago – would lead to an extra 1,200 square metres of shopping space being created along with additional parking and new jobs.
Also, once the work begins, Tesco will give more than £300,000 to Burnham’s town centre regeneration project as part of an RLT2 agreement struck with Sedgemoor District Council.
The ‘community gain’ was agreed between Sedgemoor and Tesco at the time that the planning application was approved in order to enhance the town’s shopping environment and help compensate traders for any potential lost trade.
Although the plans to pedestrianise Burnham High Street were axed last month, the Civic Pride group still wants to use the money to smarten up and modernise the town centre with new street furniture.
