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Massive Sheffield city centre Tesco gets go-ahead
A HUGE Tesco store has been approved for the edge of Sheffield city centre – but the company's plans for another, smaller store in a suburb have been rejected.
The massive development on land between Spital Hill and Savile Street will create 600 new jobs, 400 of which will be in-store and another 200 at other commercial units to be built on-site.
Work can begin immediately as the former car dealerships that most recently stood on the site, once Sheffield's first railway station, have been demolished.
But some members of Sheffield Council's city centre, south and east planning board criticised the new building's design, the impact on surrounding stores and the proposed closure of Carlisle Street at its junction with Spital Hill.
Coun Tim Rippon called for it to be refused planning permission, saying the planned brick frontage closest to the Wicker Arches was "entirely inappropriate" next to a listed structure. He called for stone to be used.
Several councillors and The Rock Christian Centre, off Carlisle Street, questioned the need for the road to be blocked off as it would harm traffic flow and divert the 45/46 bus route.
Highways officer Ian Wheeldon said although closure was "not ideal", leaving it open would cause congestion because one of the access roads to the Tesco car park was planned to join Spital Hill at the same point as Carlisle Street.
Board members were also concerned about a prediction the store will take two per cent of trade from Spital Hill – but it was accepted the area needed the regeneration and new jobs.
In return for being given the go-ahead, Tesco will contribute 60,000 towards public artwork, 350,000 to regenerate the area around Spital Hill shops, and a possible 300,000 for bus priority measures if shoppers' traffic leads to extended journey times.
But the same board rejected Tesco's plans for an Express convenience store on Ecclesall Road South at Parkhead.
Councillors, who received two petitions signed by a total of 4,000 people, plus 60 letters all objecting to the scheme, said the building, on the site of a former garage, was too large.
They decided windows from a proposed flat on the upper floor would cause "unacceptable overlooking" and the prospect of delivery vehicles, including articulated lorries, parking on the road outside was unsafe.
A planning officers' report said: "The proposals are an over-development and over-intensification of the site."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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