TESCO approved

Story: Carlene Hepworth

Tesco’s plan for a 10,000 square metres store at Spital Hill was approved by Sheffield City Council on 14th January. The store will include 871 parking spaces, a petrol station, car wash, recycling unit and offices. 395 jobs will be created in the Tesco store and a further 175 elsewhere in the development.

However, fears grow that the supermarket could threaten shops on Spital Hill. Dave Havard, who works at New Roots Café, said, “My prediction is that some of those local businesses will go out of business. People do ‘one-stop shopping’ so they will go to Tesco.” Keith Hobson, at his butcher’s shop on Spital Hill, said, “Hopefully it will do some good but people won’t go there and then come here afterwards. It could be the last nail in the coffin – or the other way round.”

Other businesses hope the new store will bring more people into the area. Raja Sadiq of S. R. Raja’s continental food store, said:

“Of course it will affect us but I think if there are more people in the area then it is a good idea.”

Tesco has promised they will not sell specialist products for ethnic minorities. Spokesman Max Curtis said, “We aim to work with the businesses of Burngreave. There are a large number of specialist shops who offer completely different products and services to Tesco. We won’t compete with them.”

The planning conditions also restrict Tesco from opening a post office or a pharmacy.

Burngreave New Deal (BNDfC) believes it will help the community and businesses rather than hinder them. Alison Reid, of BNDfC, said:

“There will be about 400 jobs at Tesco and we’re hoping the majority of those are local people. It wouldn’t do Tesco any favours if everybody did go out of business. It wouldn’t do them any good to have a derelict road.”

Also included in the planning conditions is a clause requiring the commemorative tree and plaque dedicated to George Caborn to be “transplanted, preserved and replanted” once the building work is complete.