Business leaders’ cautious welcome for superstore

Oct 22 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

BUSINESS leaders in Wirral have given a cautious but optimistic welcome to news that work on a massive supermarket in Birkenhead town centre could start next year.

The £40m scheme would see the 95,000sq ft Asda built on Grange Road, near the Pyramids shopping centre, and stretching back over the car park behind.

The massive scheme is awaiting approval from Government Office North West after receiving planning approval from Wirral Council.

Last night Danny Doyle, marketing manager for Birkenhead Market, said he was hopeful the development could “kick-start the revival” of the town centre.

Mr Doyle said although there would be additional competition for market traders, their emphasis on niche markets and farm produce would be likely to help them compete against the supermarket.

He said: “The town centre has never recovered from losing a major food retailer, and from that point of view we are glad to see it return to the town.

“Sadly, there will be lines which conflict but that is the nature of retail now. Our trad- ers are sufficiently different to attract their own clientele.”

The Wirral Branch of the Federation of Small Businesses has also given a cautious response.

Local branch chairman Paul Molyneux said: “The dom-inance of grocery market retail multiples is an issue for small businesses from both a supplier and a competitor point of view.

“Dominance in an industry can lead to a lack of diversity, lack of competition and supplier mistreatment.

“We hope this development will not impact too greatly on our members in the vicinity and across the borough, both during the construction work and when it opens.

“It may well encourage more shoppers back to Grange Road and back into our members’ stores as well.

“We urge the developers to use local small firms to carry out the building work, and that the occupying retailer sources products from the rich and diverse range of produce that Wirral’s small suppliers have to offer.”

Previous plans for a supermarket to help regenerate that end of the shopping centre have been upgraded to meet Asda’s requirements.

Cheshire-based Castlewood Developments are behind the scheme. One of the company’s owners, Robert Shaw, said they are hoping work will start in early 2008.

He said: “Birkenhead will have all the out-of-town facilities and create an even bigger reason for people to come into the town centre.”

Deputy leader of the council Phil Davies said it was fantastic news for Birkenhead and what “we have long wanted”.

It is hoped the new store could be opening in mid-2009 if all goes according to plan, and Cllr Davies, who represents Birkenhead and Tranmere ward, said: “Now we have got that kind of timescale agreed it’s something we can really look forward to.”

liammurphy