Tesco’s bid for a new store:

November 2007:

The Examiner revealed talks were taking place between Tesco and Kirklees Council for a deal that would see the retailer open a new store on the existing Sports Centre site, with a new £26m centre for Huddersfield built at Springwood.

We reported that the current Tesco, at Viaduct Street, would be redeveloped, plus two of the three tower blocks on Leeds road will be demolished to make way for the store. At the time, the £120m plan was to create 270 new jobs.

2008:

Cabinet members agreed Springwood car park would be the home of the new sports centre. In May housing bosses unveiled plans to move tenants out of the Ibotson and Lonsbrough flats in two tower blocks on the Tesco site. BY August we revealed Kirklees Council has spent £196,000 developing the proposal in 2007/08.

Click below for the latest pictures of the Huddersfield Leisure Centre

 

2009:

The cost of the new sports centre had risen to £36.2m, with Cabinet agreeing a “very good settlement” with Tesco. At the time councillors said “the bulk” and a “substantial” amount of the funding for the sports centre would come from the capital receipt gained by the council selling land to Tesco. No figures have ever been made public.

By October Tesco had submitted a planning application to Kirklees Council for the new store.

2010:

Kirklees Council submitted its planning application for the replacement leisure centre. It was approved by the Huddersfield Planning Committee in November.

2011:

Councillors approved Tesco’s plan for a new supermarket. The following day, MP Barry Sheerman referred it to the planning minister, which was called in for a review in June 2011 and the inquiry held in November 2011.

View of Tesco's proposed store from Northumberland Street
View of Tesco's proposed store from Northumberland Street

2012:

The Government’s Planning Inspectorate gave the go-ahead for Tesco. A month later the cost of developing Richmond Flats was £3.7m or £87,500 per flat.

2013:

In April rumours first surfaced that the future of the new Tesco store was in doubt; by May 400 car park spaces were lost when the Spring Grove car park close for work on the new sports centre to start.

2014:

After Tesco’s financial troubles hit the headlines, Clr David Sheard said he suspected Tesco may want a smaller store on the site. He also said any deal over the land sale was legally binding.

2015:

Tesco confirm they will no longer build a new store in Huddersfield. Kirklees say the sale deal is legally binding.

Changes already made:

  • Swallow Court, a centre for people with special needs, was demolished to make way for the new leisure centre. The service moved into the Highfields centre.
  • The Southgate Family Centre on Old Leeds Road was demolished, costing £34,000 in demolition costs.
  • Tenants were relocated from Ibbotson and Lonsbrough Flats. Kirklees had to compensate 41 long-term residents for loss of their homes with each entitled to £4,700.
  • Work on £36m new leisure centre underway.
  • Car parking: Loss of car park spaces, 80 spaces brought in £400 a day to council coffers.

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