New Denbigh Tesco store to create 250 jobs

Dec 3 2008 By Andy Davies

DENBIGH will be getting every little bit of help from a supermarket giant when Tesco comes to the town.

Denbighshire County Council last week approved plans for the development of the former Kwik Save site.

The superstore will be built in the centre of a new retail park for the town which it is hoped will create 250 full and part-time jobs once construction work is completed.

Cathco Property Group Ltd had their plans approved when Denbighshire County Council met last Tuesday. The firm submitted plans to build the store on Station Yard, together with two separate blocks of retail units, associated highway and parking proposals.

A small section of the site has been safeguarded for the development of informal recreational open space.

But Tesco will take the largest, 50,000 sq ft unit on the site, which would also have 19 other retail units of varying sizes and a restaurant/cafe bar.

At a meeting of Denbighshire’s planning committee in October, it was agreed to approve the plans as it was considered the overall benefit of the scheme to the town outweighed the retail impact concerns and intrusion into the Cae Fron recreational area.

When plans were at an early stage Gwyn Evans, North Wales chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said there was a danger the new retail park would alter Denbigh’s shopping centre, pulling shoppers away from the top end of town and leading to the closure of more small shops there.

Nigel Dick, property director at Cathco, responded by saying: "Tesco’s interest in the area is a terrific boost for attracting and retaining shoppers from the town and surrounding area."

Denbigh mayor Cllr Ray Bartley told the Visitor of his delight at the news: "It’s been rather a long drawn out application and I believe that Denbigh will benefit tremendously from the retail park. People can shop for items where they couldn’t before and it will be a big asset for the town.

"The new retail park will create interest from other retail firms and will help bring more jobs and boost employment for the area."