Councillors approve new Tesco store for Larkhall

May 26 2011 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A SECOND supermarket giant has been given planning permission to open a store in Larkhall.

Tesco were given the go-ahead this week for a development in Raploch Street – but it’s still not certain whether the plans will actually be undertaken.

South Lanarkshire Council have already approved plans, for a Larkhall store, submitted by rivals Asda.

The two retail giants have for some time been battling to open supermarkets in Larkhall.

Yesterday (Wednesday) a Tesco spokesman welcomed the council’s decision to approve this application but insisted Larkhall was not big enough for both of them.

The new Tesco store, which is to be built on a site currently occupied by Larkhall Thistle Football Club and part of Raploch Bowling Club will create 150 new jobs.

The multi-million pounds development was granted detailed planning permission at the council’s planning committee meeting on Tuesday.

The decision paves the way for the football club to relocate to a purpose-built stadium in Hareleeshill and improvements to the bowling club's facilities. Such a deal has been agreed in principle by the parties concerned and will be subject to a future separate planning application.

However, as part of the completion of a section 75 legal agreement for the application, the council will require that the football stadium be fully operational before any work begins on the Raploch Street site.

Permission granted is for the formation of a new single-storey superstore with associated parking and servicing facilities.

A new vehicular access will be formed off Raploch Street and an ATM, trolley bays and cycle racks are also to be included.

Planning permission in principle was granted to ASDA stores Ltd and Muse Developments for the erection of a store, petrol filling station and associated car parking, on a site adjacent to Larkhall Academy, at the committee's last meeting on April 5. The new Asda store will create 250 jobs.

Councillor Graham Scott, chairman of the planning committee, welcomed the decision, adding: “It is obviously a source of great encouragement to the council that Tesco, and recently ASDA, have chosen to locate in Larkhall. As well as bringing new job opportunities, new retail development will help to invigorate the local economy, improve consumer choice and retain expenditure within the town.

“I am also pleased a deal has been negotiated between Tesco and Larkhall Thistle Football Club which will enable the team to move to a new state-of-the-art facility, which will boost the sports facilities and capacity for the wider community.”

However, the application attracted 17 letters of objection. Nearby residents believed the new supermarket would have a negative impact on the shops in Union Street.

Many said the store was being “squeezed into the Larkhall football club site which is not adequate to make any substantial impact on the leakage leaving Larkhall unlike the Asda proposal.

Others claimed the new development would create more congestion, noise and light pollution and a loss of privacy to surrounding gardens.

Doug Wilson, a spokesman for Tesco said: “We are delighted by the decision. Our plans for Larkhall are set to create over 150 local job opportunities.”