Race to open supermarkets in Redhill
Five major supermarkets are in a race to open stores in Redhill.
The Mirror can reveal Waitrose, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco are all battling to open in the town centre.
Big name stores like Desire by Debenhams, Laura Ashley, Peacocks and Monsoon Accessorize have also said they have "need for a space" in town.
As part of the Redhill Master Plan to revamp the town by 2020, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council earmarked a location ripe for a new supermarket.
Ahead of the game but opting for a different site, Tesco is set to make a planning application for a multi-million pound store next month.
The proposed 24-hour store in Brighton Road, with 25 flats above, could be built within three years if plans are approved.
Despite its application, Tesco and the four other retailers have been in talks with the council and the promoter of a scheme for the Cromwell Road site.
The site, home to hundreds of private and housing association residents, could also be home to the town's third supermarket.
Sainsbury's, which already owns a store in the Warwick Quadrant, is among the supermarket giants competing.
As part of its master plan for the town, the council has designated the Marketfield Road site as a preference for retail stores like Debenhams.
The council bought the lease for the site in February, including shops from 18 to 44 High Street – describing the area as "key to development of the town".
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council confirmed the stores interested in revitalising the town this week.
A council spokeswoman told the Mirror: "In support the of the current Redhill Action Plan, the council has carried out a number of retail studies.
"These confirmed the need for one additional large new supermarket and a range of larger shops in Redhill to meet future customer needs and retailer demands.
"The council is currently considering the responses to the recent Redhill Area Action Plan Preferred Options consultation and will assess the viability, deliverability and compatibility of supermarket site proposals in the light of this assessment."
Concern over Tesco's 24-hour opening plan – see page 7
Comments
by Simon, Redhill
Friday, April 24 2009, 9:41AM
“I live in a PRIVATE LEASE HOLD flat adjacent to the area under the 'Cromwell Road' consultation site, and have the leasehold right for more than 100 years. I have not been consulted by the council and feel that any proposal would be amount to a 'land grab' on the cromwell area with loss of green space (lower bridge road open space) a historic building (Salvation Army building built in 19th century). Whilst I admit the 3 Raven Housing blocks of flats are not great- a little paint would substantially improve the area! The local shops on Cromwell Road are not nice either but what about re-developing the shops and having a larger help shop and citizens advice bureau. The cromwell road site proposed is a predominantly RESIDENTIAL area, the land use change is significant. In effect the council would struggle to get me to move unless they offered a huge financial incentive as I have no plans to move! I went to the Tesco proposal and support this site in full on the Reading Arch site. This site is commercial in current land use, no residential properties on the site, good access, good local roads and is a good size, and Tesco have already got most of the landowners buy- in and have found alternative sites for them. The Cromwell Road site is not a good size, has multiple land owners, I am perplexed as to why the council are liaising with Network rail in respect to the Cromwell road site and not the private leaseholders/ freeholders. Access on the site is an issue with the one- way system around the town, and access via the Belfry roundabout- safety and accidents would be a huge problem.”