A NEW supermarket in the heart of Birkenhead’s shopping district is viable and has the money to proceed, a public inquiry into the scheme was told.
Wirral Council was defending plans to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to buy out properties on Grange Road, in Birkenhead, for the planned Asda on the site.
The scheme already has planning permission and preparatory works have been undertaken, the inquiry was told, but one shop on the site had objected to the CPOs and forced the inquiry at Birkenhead Town Hall to be held.
The supermarket is being developed by Castlewood Developments and Pochin plc, and would see an 8,800 square metre superstore selling food and others goods, along with extra car parking.
But it would require clearance of part of Grange Road, and the inquiry was told that retailer, B&M, had continued to object, and presented a written submission to the inquiry.
The objections raised had included doubt about the scheme’s viability, that it would have “an adverse effect” on that area of Grange Road and that it will fail to attract new retailers.
Other concerns were about the plans “in the current economic climate” and fears that the new store would compete with existing retailers in Birkenhead.
But Martin Carter, representing the council at the inquiry, dismissed these concerns in his opening statement to the inquiry, and the inspector Christina Downes was presented with a letter from RBS saying they would make available £22m towards the total cost of the project, with Pochin committed to providing the remaining funds, around £14m.
