The regeneration of Tolworth town centre in Surrey has “moved a step closer” with Tesco submitting an application to build a new 35,000 sq ft store on land formerly owned by the Ministry of Defence, along with a 99-bed hotel, a gym and up to 269 new homes.
Spenhill, the regeneration arm of Tesco, has submitted the planning application to Kingston Council for the residential-led scheme following consultation with local residents. Tesco is already delivering three major residential-led schemes across the Capital – at Streatham, Woolwich and Highams Park – which between them will deliver over 1,000 new homes.
The proposed scheme at Tolworth will include homes ranging from one to four bedrooms, a proportion of which will be affordable housing. As part of the development Tesco will also deliver a new pedestrian connection across the western side of the Tolworth interchange and fund the extension of a bus route to Tolworth train station.
Tesco’s originally submitted the Tolworth masterplan in 2009, which included a larger store (60,000 sq ft) and did not include improvements to the public realm adjacent to the Tolworth interchange. The scheme will create 250 new jobs.
Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager at Tesco, said: “Tesco, through Spenhill, is already delivering major regeneration schemes at Streatham, Woolwich and Highams Park with major housing elements. We hope this scheme in Tolworth will have a similar impact, in terms of providing the local community with new amenities, much-needed new homes, alongside a new Tesco store.”
Source: Tesco
Tesco’s makes this development sound like they are doing the people of Tolworth a massive favour. What they fail to say is that the are planning to build this unwanted development at the site if the largest and most congested roundabout on the A3. Since 2006 local residents have opposed it and continue to do so. In conjunction with Transport for London they have fudged the figures for the traffic congestion and have thus far refused to publish the true expected traffic increase figures. With previous applications, Tesco’s held local public exhibitions. This time local residents haven’t had any notification regarding a submission and Tesco’s is using the stealth route. It is very sad a company like this has to bully local people. If this store gets given the go ahead it will result in 4 Tesco’s stores in approximately a 2 mile radius. We don’t want another Tesco’s town. No wonder their profits have fallen, we are sick of them
I live right off Tolworth broadway and want Tesco to build! Tolworth needs a decent supermarket, and don’t tell me there are to many Tesco’s as Sainbury’s dominates the area. I’m sure the broadways shops will survive, there customers walk there and are a different clientele to large a supermarkets drivers. The Tesco/Esso petrol station is constant chaos and proves that we need a better larger supermarket. Who are all these people that don’t want Tesco to build everyone I know who lives in Tolworth wants this development to go ahead