Powergen and Morrisons have submitted a planning application for a 7,710 sq m (83,000 sq ft) superstore on the Freeman’s Wharf site in central Leicester.
Morrison will operate the store on land on Royal Dykes Road, which the utility owns. Offices, non-food retail units, a pub, a restaurant and a car showroom are planned for the rest of the scheme.
The application has caused controversy because the site is close to Helical Retail’s Cattle Market development, which has been backed by City Challenge (CC), and could become a direct rival. The Royal Dykes Road site had also been previously earmarked by CC for non-food stores and leisure development.
However, the Powergen site already has outline planning permission for 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) of retail and 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) of B1 use.
The Cattlemarket site is currently occupied by a Safeway supermarket, a pub, a fast food restaurant and a cinema.
EGi News 24/12/97
