LONG awaited plans for the construction of a Tesco supermarket in Camelford have come a step closer as the retail giant submits a planning application to Cornwall Council.

It is seeking planning permission for the erection of a Class E food store and petrol filling station, to include a jet wash in addition to associated works including a click and collect facility for land to the south of Victoria Road in the town.

The proposed development is expected to create approximately 100 local jobs, comprising a mix of full and part time positions and it is proposed that the store would open between 7am and 11pm on Monday to Saturday, with the usual restricted Sunday trading hours and a 24-hour petrol filling station.

A previous planning application for a food store on the site, granted in 2013 has long lapsed.

Public consultation exercises conducted by consultants on behalf of Tesco stated that there was support for the scheme, with the application documents noting: “Feedback from the consultation has been very positive with 78 per cent of consultees indicating that they would like to see a new supermarket and 74 per cent supporting the proposals for a new Tesco in Camelford.

“The main benefits indicated about having the new supermarket were the reduction in travel for a weekly main shop, it will encourage local spending and local jobs. However, there were also some concerns raised about some aspects of the development, including traffic increase, pedestrian access and the effects on local shops and wildlife.”

One of the changes from the previous pre-application proposals submitted in 2023 and the full planning application include the removal of a previously proposed roundabout access.

At a cost of approximately £1-million after a cost analysis exercise, the applicant says that if it is required to include the roundabout would render the development unviable.

In an accompanying planning statement and retail impact analysis document, the supermarket giant noted that Camelford was ‘in a fragile state’ with its arrival in the town potentially being the catalyst to begin the town’s revitalisation.

It noted: “The development of a new ‘anchor’ store (such that proposed by Tesco), on an edge of centre site easily accessible to the town c entre, will stem the leakage of trade from the town, creating an environment which other town centre businesses will benefit from – due to linked trips. Such linked trips will generate footfall, which will benefit existing local shops and services as well as further enhancing the prospects of new businesses moving into the town.

“In summary, our health check illustrates that Camelford town centre is in a fragile state (partly due to poor footfall and town centre traffic congestion) and unable to meet the retail needs of the local community. Our research illustrates that, during the course of the last 13 years, the scale of retail outflow from the town has continued to increase and the number of shops and services in the town centre have continued to decline.”

The plans can be viewed using reference PA25/02932.