Asda's store plans get nod for approval

Plans for a new Asda store on the site of Telford & Wrekin Council's civic offices have been recommended for approval by council planning officers.

The council's plans board will meet on Wednesday to consider the supermarket chain's application, which was submitted in the autumn.

Developer Hark Apollo had put forward plans to keep the supermarket firm in Telford Shopping Centre as part of multi-million pound plans, but Asda wants to move onto the civic offices site, when its existing lease in the mall expires.

Bosses of the supermarket firm have agreed to buy Telford & Wrekin Council's civic offices subject to planning permission.

Hark chiefs, already smarting from the loss of several big names, including Woolworths, have previously said moving Asda to the civic offices would "harm the town centre and cost jobs".

The planned development includes a 7,897sq m superstore with a 500 space car park and a six-bay automatic petrol filling station as well as the creation of a new entrance and exits and appropriate traffic controls.

The report to the plans board advises that if the application is approved, subject to conditions, the council would need to refer the development to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

If it is approved, Asda could proceed with the development of the new store provided that the Secretary of State does not wish to call in the application.

The proposed store would be a sustainable modern building located along the northwest boundary of the existing civic offices site with customer and service access via a realigned Southwater Way and vehicle access from Malinsgate.