ACS

Tesco has reportedly used underhand tactics to "front" a planning application for a massive supermarket development by using a local retailer.

The application for an 80,000 square foot store in Barnstaple, Devon, was submitted in the name of local retailer Brian Ford's, despite Tesco having acquired the independent retailer a year earlier.
No mention was made of Tesco's involvement in the scheme, which will, if permission is granted, be built on the site of the existing Brian Ford's store.

The application states: "Brian Ford's Discount Store has traded in Barnstaple for over thirty years...the company has been actively involved in local commerce and has both an excellent reputation and a loyal and extensive customer base in the area."

According to the Telegraph, Tesco has not broken any laws by not disclosing its involvement in the scheme but rival retailers have described the tactic of applying for permission in the name of a local retailer as "underhand".

"This is a Trojan horse planning application. It has, effectively, been fronted by a local retailer. It is misleading," said one supermarket executive.

But a spokeswoman for Tesco denied any wrongdoing or the suggestion that it had attempted to mislead, saying: "Brian Ford's is a local family run company. They did not want to cause uncertainty to their staff until it was clear if these plans would progress. The motivation was not to conceal Tesco's identity it was to help them maintain stability in their business.

"As it got closer to a planning decision we insured that the planning authority was informed that they would not operate the store," she added.

The decision could be now delayed as council officers prepare a new "retail impact study".

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Once again this is an example of how supermarkets use underhand tactics to grow their share of the grocery market. The planning system needs to be robust to allow local people to stand up to tactics like this and we are lobbying Government to ensure that local planners get the support they need. It is encouraging to see that the North Devon District Council will be undertaking a retail impact study in the light of this new information.”

ACS will be meeting with the Communities and Local Government Minister, Iain Wright MP, later this week to discuss planning issues in detail with particular focus on the town centre first planning policy.