Tesco supermarket proposal for Hadleigh rejected again

Tesco has again had its plans for a supermarket in Hadleigh, Suffolk, rejected.

The firm wanted to build on the former Brett Works and riverside allotments behind High Street and Bridge Street.

Babergh District councillors rejected the planning application on the grounds of unsuitable design and its position next to a conservation area.

Tesco's first application for the town was in 1987 and a public inquiry was held after another bid in 1999.

The council's development committee turned down the latest planning application by eight votes to seven.

Jan Byrne, chair of the Hadleigh Society, which has opposed the plan, said: "If any of the big supermarkets chose to come into the town anywhere other than this site, then the majority of people in the town are likely to welcome them.

Tesco has produced an artist's impression of the proposed store in Hadleigh

"The whole crux of the matter is site, traffic, high street, local shops."

Roy Smith, chair of the Hadleigh Tesco Supporters Group, said: "We've only got one grocer in the whole of our High Street.

"It's got a monopoly and therefore we need a choice of more products at reasonable prices and a supermarket will provide that.

"We feel [Tesco] would be very well landscaped and will bring more shoppers in and therefore boost the vitality of the town and perhaps stay for lunch and other things as well."

Michael Kisman, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "There has been a passionate debate and I think what's important is that the principle of the store didn't seem in doubt.

"The reality is that people are getting in their cars and going to Ipswich or Sudbury.

"We will continue to talk to the council and consider what we do next."