Have Tesco been “underhand”?

Food retailer Tesco has submitted a formal planning application to turn The Feathers pub in Chorlton into a convenience store.

The new Tesco Express will be the firm’s second store in the area after it opened its first shop on Manchester Road.

The Feathers, on Barlow Moor Road, was vacant on and off for a year or more. Tesco wants to put new fascias and an ATM on the outside of the building to rebrand it into a new store.

Debbie Ellen, from the Keep Chorlton Interesting campaign group, said Tesco had been “underhand” in redeveloping the building after submitting earlier planning applications in a different name, to avoid detection.

“Earlier in the year, permission was granted for external air conditioning units but that application was submitted by SEH Pub Partnership.

“The planning officer told us the inference was that the site was being refurbished for use as a pub. We know of other cases across the country where a similar strategy has been adopted by Tesco.

“We would say that this is underhand and if Sir Terry Leahy does only want to open stores where the local community want them, as he has stated previously, Tesco should be up front about its intentions at the earliest opportunity.

“We would also suggest that the forthcoming changes to the planning framework require the retail occupier to be declared on applications in such cases.”