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Tesco sells mothballed supermarket sites for £250m | Tesco sells mothballed supermarket sites for £250m |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Supermarket giant Tesco is selling off more than a dozen sites that it no longer wants to develop to a property company in a £250m deal. | Supermarket giant Tesco is selling off more than a dozen sites that it no longer wants to develop to a property company in a £250m deal. |
Some 10,000 homes could be built on the sites in London, the South East and Bath. | Some 10,000 homes could be built on the sites in London, the South East and Bath. |
They are part of nearly 50 projects which Tesco said earlier this year it was abandoning, many of which are now derelict. | They are part of nearly 50 projects which Tesco said earlier this year it was abandoning, many of which are now derelict. |
The decision was part of the supermarket's revival strategy. | The decision was part of the supermarket's revival strategy. |
Tesco is selling the sites to Meyer Bergman, a property investment firm. | Tesco is selling the sites to Meyer Bergman, a property investment firm. |
Markus Meijer, its chief executive, said the investment would give new impetus to the abandoned Tesco projects. | Markus Meijer, its chief executive, said the investment would give new impetus to the abandoned Tesco projects. |
Tesco said in January that it was shelving plans to open 49 large supermarkets - some of which had already been built - as well as closing 43 unprofitable stores. | Tesco said in January that it was shelving plans to open 49 large supermarkets - some of which had already been built - as well as closing 43 unprofitable stores. |
The move formed part of chief executive Dave Lewis's strategy to restore the company's fortunes in the wake of an accounting scandal in 2014. | The move formed part of chief executive Dave Lewis's strategy to restore the company's fortunes in the wake of an accounting scandal in 2014. |
However, the decision to abandon planned new stores attracted criticism. Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, where a major supermarket plan was mothballed, said that the local community felt let down. | However, the decision to abandon planned new stores attracted criticism. Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, where a major supermarket plan was mothballed, said that the local community felt let down. |
'Right decision' | 'Right decision' |
Alan Stewart, chief financial officer, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Tesco would not be developing stores on the mothballed sites it still owned. | Alan Stewart, chief financial officer, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Tesco would not be developing stores on the mothballed sites it still owned. |
"We don't have the resource to put into these developments," he said. "The right decision for us and the business is not to go ahead." | "We don't have the resource to put into these developments," he said. "The right decision for us and the business is not to go ahead." |
Analysis: Kamal Ahmed, business editor | Analysis: Kamal Ahmed, business editor |
Mr Stewart knows that selling lucrative sites in the south-east of England is somewhat easier than more marginal sites across the north of England, for example. | Mr Stewart knows that selling lucrative sites in the south-east of England is somewhat easier than more marginal sites across the north of England, for example. |
As yet, there is still no timeline for selling the rest of the sites, which for the moment will remain padlocked and unused. | As yet, there is still no timeline for selling the rest of the sites, which for the moment will remain padlocked and unused. |
Read more from Kamal here: Tesco: Houses are more lucrative than shops | Read more from Kamal here: Tesco: Houses are more lucrative than shops |
The development sites being sold by Tesco include: | The development sites being sold by Tesco include: |
- Fulham High Street | - Fulham High Street |
- Highams Park (next to existing Tesco store) | - Highams Park (next to existing Tesco store) |
- Hounslow (Hounslow bus garage) | - Hounslow (Hounslow bus garage) |
- Lewisham (next to existing Tesco store) | - Lewisham (next to existing Tesco store) |
- New Barnet (East Barnet Road) | - New Barnet (East Barnet Road) |
- St Albans (London Road) | - St Albans (London Road) |
- Tolworth (Former MOD site next to Tolworth Broadway and A3) | - Tolworth (Former MOD site next to Tolworth Broadway and A3) |
- Hillingdon Master Brewer Site (Hillingdon Circus) | - Hillingdon Master Brewer Site (Hillingdon Circus) |
- Woolwich Phase 3 and 4 (next to existing Extra store) | - Woolwich Phase 3 and 4 (next to existing Extra store) |
- Epsom (Upper High Street) | - Epsom (Upper High Street) |
- Kensington (next to existing Cromwell Road store, pictured below) | - Kensington (next to existing Cromwell Road store, pictured below) |
Do you live in the areas affected? What would you rather see in the area, a supermarket or housing? Share your views. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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