Kirklees chief executive is to meet with Tesco’s property developer tomorrow to discuss future options for Huddersfield.
The summit meeting for Adrian Lythgo comes a week after the shock news that the retail giant has ditched plans for a new superstore in the town.
And it was also confirmed to councillors that a legal contract pledging Tesco money for the Southgate site of the current Sports Centre is binding.
Days after Tesco confirmed it was pulling out of building a new store in Huddersfield, there were a number of questions from councillors at last night’s Full Council meeting.
And it was revealed by Mr Lythgo, Kirklees chief executive, that he is to meet Tesco’s property developer on Friday to discuss future options.
He also told councillors: “The council was made aware of the decision by Tesco not to proceed with the development of the Old Leeds Road site early on Thursday, January 8.
“Since then Tesco has confirmed in a conversation with me, and publicly, that they accept there is a binding legal contract in place in respect of their purchase of council-owned land on the site.”
Mr Lythgo added that Tesco had acknowledged in a letter to Kirklees Council that it understood the impact of their decision and wanted to work with the council.
Clr David Sheard, council leader, had earlier told councillors: “Obviously they will want to mitigate their losses and we will want to get as much out of it as possible.”
Asked by Clr Phil Scott if there was a concern about the Southgate area of the town becoming “derelict and an eyesore”, Clr Sheard added: “We’re all concerned that site isn’t just left and that something comes of it.”
Tesco , facing financial troubles, has walked away from building a new store on the site of the current Huddersfield Sports Centre, which was to be sold to them by Kirklees Council.
The authority was then using cash from the land sale to fund the new £36m Huddersfield Leisure Centre at Springwood.
The current Tesco site in Viaduct Street was then to be regenerated.
