Sainsbury's abandons Middlesbrough superstore

The building's shell has been constructed, along with the car park and the roof placed on the petrol station

Sainsbury's has abandoned an 80,000 sq ft superstore on Teesside despite completing construction of the building and its car park.

The supermarket chain said the site in Middlesbrough is "no longer viable" blaming changing UK shopping habits.

Middlesbrough Council approved the plans in 2013 and intended the store to form part of a £35m redevelopment of the Middlehaven area.

It said it now hoped another retailer would take on the site.

"We have not taken this decision lightly and are very disappointed we are not able to open a new shop in Middlesbrough," a Sainsbury's spokesman said.

"Since the proposals were first announced, shopping patterns have changed considerably and following a review, the scheme is no longer viable for us.

"We are now marketing the building to interested retailers and will focus support on our Wilson Street store."

Middlesbrough Council backed plans for the supermarket in 2013

'Dynamic changed'

The council unanimously backed development plans for Middlehaven in November 2013, including the Sainsbury's store and filling station, a KFC drive-through, coffee shop and restaurant.

Councillor Charlie Rooney, executive member for regeneration, said: "It absolutely is a disappointment, but we need to move forward and not keep looking backwards at what might have been.

"It's still a good site and we can market it as a good site."

Retail consultant John Heagney said major supermarket chains are facing increased competition from discounters such as Lidl and Aldi.

He said: "Nobody foresaw the massive impact of the European discounters and the old monthly shop has virtually gone out of the window as people shop little and often.

"The whole dynamic of retailing has changed."

Morrisons, Asda and Tesco have also announced a scaling back of new store openings and the closure of less profitable shops in the face of discounters winning greater market share.