Retail giant Tesco is in discussions with developers over a new store within the boundaries of Glasgow's waterfront regeneration scheme.
The site, at Glasgow Harbour, is just one mile from Tesco's controversial proposal for a superstore in Partick.
At 130,000 sq ft, it is also 50% bigger than the Partick scheme, which has spawned dedicated opposition groups, mass meetings and cross-party political objections.
The latest development comes as the Scottish Government announces it will hold a public inquiry into Tesco's two separate applications for the Beith Street site in Partick.
Tesco appealed to ministers to determine its bids after accusing Glasgow City Council of dragging its heels, which it claimed was tantamount to a refusal.
The Glasgow Harbour planning application has been submitted by the company behind the £1bn waterfront development, Peel Holdings. If successful, the supermarket will be built at the west end of the project, between the Riverside Walkway and South Street.
The project will have 252 apartments, shops, cafes, a landscaped public square and a new pontoon on the river. It will be accessed by the planned "trams on wheels" system, which will link the site to the city centre by 2011.
Euan Jamieson, managing director of Glasgow Harbour, said: "Our proposed supermarket is fully integrated into a £25m roads and infrastructure upgrade. Therefore we believe this site is the ideal location for a large west end supermarket from a traffic impact perspective."
"There is currently no substantial, modern supermarket provision serving the areas of Partick, Whiteinch and Broomhill. We have been in discussions with Tesco on this site as a possible alternative to their proposals at Beith Street, but we expect strong interest from all the major supermarket operators."
Although the main objectors to the Beith Street scheme are broadly more in favour of the Glasgow Harbour site, there are still concerns, not least the spectre of two massive outlets within one mile of each other. There are also a Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer within Partick.
Aileen Colleran, a local Labour councillor and senior member of the ruling administration at Glasgow City Council, said: "Two major stores in close proximity is the worst of both worlds. I will continue with my objections to Beith Street but if it was an either/or then I'd have to look at the merits of Glasgow Harbour.
"It's a big if' but that could present us with an opportunity to do something right with Beith Street."
Samer Bagaeen, the driving force behind the Stop Tesco Owning Partick campaign, said: "Our objections to the proposals were purely on planning grounds and from a traffic point of view the impact would be less than at Partick Cross," he said. "But this raises questions about what could happen with Beith Street. We still would want to see something linking Partick with the riverside."
A Tesco spokesman said the firm would not comment on the Glasgow Harbour scheme and said it was continuing to pursue its applications for Beith Street.
Links
- glasgowharbour.com
- glasgow.gov.uk/en/onlineservices/planning buildingstandards
- tesco.net
- stoptesco.info
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