Tesco loses legal bid to block key Liverpool regeneration scheme

  A major obstacle blocking progress at one of Liverpool’s most important regeneration schemes has been overcome, following a High Court ruling today. St Modwen’s £150m Project Jennifer scheme can move a step closer after a legal challenge by Tesco was rejected at Manchester High Court this morning.   The regeneration proposals seek to deliver 481 new homes, community facilities, a major new 110,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket, 80,000 sq ft of non-food retail stores, and significant public realm improvements to the Great Homer Street area, in north Liverpool. It had met with delay following the rejection of a rival planning application for a 90,000 sq ft stand-alone Tesco food-store by a government planning inspector at the end of last year following a public inquiry. Tesco then launched a legal challenge, arguing that the inspector’s decision was wrong on a point of law. Michelle Taylor, regional director at St Modwen, said: “This is great news for the Project Jennifer scheme and we welcome the Court’s favourable decision. “It has been a frustrating time for all involved. We can now look forward to delivering this transformational scheme for north Liverpool, bringing forward the development which the community has fully supported throughout this long process.” Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, City Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “This is a decision which will be warmly welcomed by the local community. Great Homer Street is an area which needs a comprehensive regeneration project and not just a stand-alone supermarket. “The legal challenge has delayed Project Jennifer and caused a lot of frustration but now I would hope that it can go ahead as quickly as is practical and make a real difference to north Liverpool,” he said.   christian.metcalfe@estatesgazette.com