Tesco planning veto boosts small stores

Local retailers celebrated victory in the 13-year battle to prevent Tesco opening a store in the town, as the supermarket failed in its appeal to overturn North Norfolk District Council’s refusal of its planning application. In the appeal decision report planning inspector Christina Downes said: “Even at the lower level of impact it was considered likely that one of the small supermarkets would close and several other businesses would potentially do so. “The harm that I have identified to the vitality, viability and retail function of Sheringham town centre and the likely detrimental impact on future investment is of overriding importance.” Local Budgens retailer Paul Burnell called the decision “a victory for small stores which will no doubt be used by other communities and councils fighting the predatory tactics of the supermarkets”. Paul added: ‘The way Tesco has gone about this bid hasn’t impressed anyone around here. They didn’t listen to local people.” He said residents were in favour of plans for a larger Budgens store in the town. Fellow local retailer Nigel Dowdney added: “This is a victory for local retailers and the community. It goes to show that Tesco will not inevitably gain planning permission, and that there are tools within the current planning system to prevent superstores being built when to do so may have a devastating impact on the local community and traders.” Tesco responded by saying it planned to double the size of its outlet in nearby Stalham, where Nigel owns a store. A spokesman said: “The inspector’s decision confirms that she visited other town centres including Stalham and found that they had different characteristics and thus the circumstances were not comparable.”