Tesco calls for M&S Foodhall plans in Stowmarket to be refused due to ‘flawed’ retail assessment

A rival supermarket chain is pushing for the rejection of plans for an M&S Foodhall in a Suffolk town.

Plans for the Marks and Spencer store in Stowmarket were submitted to Mid Suffolk District Council in November, which would see the outlet occupy land off Gun Cotton Way and Tomo Road, along with two additional retail units.

However, a letter from Martin Robeson Planning Practice, on behalf of Tesco Stores Limited, recommends the planning application is refused due to ‘significant deficiencies’ which it claims undermine the effectiveness of the retail assessment.

It said: “The application, as it stands, is critically deficient in providing the necessary and relevant information and to the extent that it does, it is fundamentally flawed.

“The proposal’s retail assessment is deficient.

“Forecasted turnover and diversion patterns are inaccurate and reveal a lack of credibility.

“No reliance can reasonably be placed on its findings.”

The town’s Tesco has been in Cedars Link Road since 1995 and, if the plans are approved, the new M&S Foodhall will be a three-minute drive from the existing supermarket.

With M&S being earmarked for the site, the original plans also outline two other retail units which have not been identified.

However, the letter from Tesco states that one of the units could potentially become Home Bargains, as previous figures from The Council’s Independent Retail Advisor (LSH) used the retailer as an example for the type of company which could occupy the unit.

The letter also states that many of the figures used in the plans are inaccurate — with foodhall plans applying for a £9,358/sqm convenience floorspace turnover figure, based on data from Mintel Retail Ranking.

However, Tesco states more ‘reliable’ data from GlobalData shows a sales density of £12,961/sqm — therefore, the proposed store is believed to be have been underestimated by 38 per cent.

If approved, the new development would include a 238-space car park and it is expected to create around 200 full and part time jobs in Stowmarket.

A consultation carried out by the applicants, Location 3 Properties Ltd, found 95 per cent of residents were in support of the proposals.

The plans are still under consideration but if the plans are given the green light, the foodhall could open by 2025.