A new Tesco foodstore is set to be built as part of Ellesmere’s Wharf development, bringing 150 jobs to the area.
Bosses from the national supermarket chain told the North Shropshire Chronicle yesterday, Wednesday, that they had bought a 20,000 square foot area on the Wharf site and are now drawing up plans.
The news comes as Sainsbury’s also confirmed that they are interested in opening a store in the area, although no sites have yet been identified.
Work started on the Wharf development in January and will see the town’s former Dairy Crest site transformed into a housing estate, with a restaurant, creche, supermarket and residential home.
Land has also been set aside for a new medical centre and the head of the Wharf will be formed into a public square.
Felix Gummer, a Tesco spokesman, said: “We have now bought the Wharf site from the developers and we are in the process of looking at plans.
“The Wharf site is 20,000 square foot and we will be employing 140 to 150 local people.
“It will be a food store with magazines but no clothes – it will be entirely a food store.
“It is impossible to say when the building will be put up as we still haven’t got the final plans.”
Brian Reay, spokesperson for PB Developments which is responsible for the Wharf development, said: “We have planning permission for a food store, medical centre, public house and a whole range of facilities.”
Earlier in the week Lincoln McMullan, chairman of the town’s chamber of commerce, announced he was considering resigning from his post.
He said he was tired of the chamber being ‘left in the dark’ over important issues such as the Wharf development and supermarket plans.
Mr McMullan said: “Even if this supermarket is not built by the Wharf, the fact is that the council knew what the supermarket is planning and they are keeping the chamber in the dark.
“Chamber members are feeling disconcerted at a time when traders are affected more than anybody.
“I’m considering resigning from chairing the chamber of commerce and I have told a few of the members in the town how unhappy I am by the way we have been treated.”
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said:“We are interested in the area but there is nothing confirmed at the moment.”
