Planners give green light to supermarket (From Warrington Guardian)

Planners give green light to supermarket

ALSAGER could have a new Co-op supermarket by next summer.

Borough councillors paved the way for the new store on Tuesday by giving the green light for the scheme.

United Co-Operatives is due to demolish its existing store in Lawton Road, Alsager, and build a larger supermarket on the same site.

Geoffrey Dyson from the Co-op said the new store could be open by late spring or early summer next year on the basis of successful land negotiations with the council.

He said a store of the size earmarked for the Lawton Road site would take between seven and eight months to build.

Mr Dyson is the head of acquisitions and development at the Co-op.

"I am delighted that our plans have been approved by the borough council," he said.

"The new store will strengthen the retail facilities in Alsager.

"It will extend the range of goods available locally, and will create a first-class shopping environment for our customers.

"Part of our site for the new store is owned by the council, and our next step is to agree with them terms that will enable the development to proceed."

The new store will cover 18,000 square feet, and will be built on the site of the current store and land to the rear.

The Co-op said it carried out widespread public consultation on the proposal, and 65 per cent of local people were in favour.

The Co-op plan sparked 351 letters of objection from local residents.