SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is facing a storm of protest

over its plan for a massive development in Glasgow's west end.
The UK's biggest supermarket firm wants to build a huge store on vacant land together with six blocks of student flats and a leisure centre. If permission is granted it would be the biggest supermarket for miles and the flats would house more than 1300 students.
On Tuesday the Evening Times revealed how the firm wanted to build on land between Beith Street and the railway line close to the bottom of Byres Road.
The giant Tesco store would create 350 jobs, have 600 underground parking spaces, and stock a full range of food, electrical and household goods as well as the firm's Florence and Fred clothing range.
Network Rail and Glasgow Harbour have already protested.
Now residents, the councillor for Partick and the community council are also bitterly opposed to Tesco's masterplan.
Concerns over the scale of the development, the impact on already congested roads and fears for trade in nearby Dumbarton Road have led to objections.
Partick Councillor, Aileen Colleran, said she has been contacted by a string of angry constituents after they were alerted to the plan by the Evening Times.
She said: "I think the site isn't suitable for a major supermarket and the proposal for student housing is completely unacceptable. It would be literally a blot on the landscape. I would urge Tesco to think again."
Resident Samer Bagaeen, who lives close to the site, is one of many objectors.
He said: "The majority of the local community on both sides of the Kelvin have written to the council to object to the original proposal for this mammoth development.
"It not only dwarfs everything around it but also pays no attention nor respect to the site, the river and Partick."
Another local resident, Scott Cameron, of Ferry Road, said: "The layout of the student accommodation will block natural daylight and sunlight.
"Increased congestion would make local roads more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists."
Dr Amera Ammari, also ofFerry Road, added: "The proposed development at seven storeys above the supermarket level is out of scale with everything that surrounds it including existing homes.
"Motorists trying to get into the store car park would increase present congestion levels on Beith Street at peak times."
And Peter Henderson, of Coopers Well Street, said: "The development currently proposed is totally inappropriate for this particular site and for the surrounding area."

Publication date 22/12/05
© Evening Times

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Tesco in bid to build new Glasgow west end superstore
by Stewart Paterson

© Evening Times
Originally published: 20.12.2005

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is planning to build a huge superstore in the west end of Glasgow.

Around 350 full and part-time jobs are expected to be created at the store close to the bottom of Byres Road.

Tesco hopes to attract shoppers from all over the west of the city and will have 600 parking spaces underground.

The store will be one of the biggest in Glasgow, stocking a full range of food, electrical and household goods as well as the firm's Florence and Fred clothing range.

The plans also include a major residential development of 1300 student flats in six blocks, each seven storeys high, and 300 private flats.

Tesco, already the biggest operator in Britain, is looking to increase its profile in Scotland.

The group plans to expand its Scottish operation, adding to its 86 stores which employ 22,500 workers, and has already agreed a deal to move its Pollok store to a new shopping complex being built nearby.

If given the go-head the Partick store will be even bigger than Tesco's huge 24-hour store at St Rollox in Springburn - 7435sq. m compared to St Rollox's 6552sq. m.

The superstore will dwarf other supermarkets in the area and provide strong competition in the fight for customers.

Morrisons has a store at Partick, just a few hundred yards away and Sainsbury and Somerfield also have smaller stores nearby.

Morrisons declined to comment on the possibility of a rival opening a bigger store right on its doorstep.

Exact details of the development and opening hours will not be decided until after full planning permission is granted.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We're meeting the council early next year to discuss the overall development.

"The store, if approved, will offer the full range of products that are available in other major Tesco outlets."

Tesco's Glasgow-based agents, Development Planning Partnership, said bosses were currently talking with university officials about the student flats which would include a leisure centre and union.

The proposal, however, faces opposition from two major organisations.

Glasgow Harbour and Network Rail object to the proposal for one of the few remaining large undeveloped sites in the west of the city.

The land, between Beith Street and the railway line adjacent to the Clydeside Expressway was occupied for many years by a scrap metal dealer.

Glasgow Harbour has said increased traffic from the supermarket would impact on the road network associated with its development.

Meanwhile, Network Rail is insisting that it owns part of the site, which is close to the railway line.