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| Sainsbury's abandons new Middlesbrough superstore | Sainsbury's abandons new Middlesbrough superstore |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sainsbury's has abandoned plans for an 80,000 sq ft superstore on Teesside after completing construction of the building and car park. | Sainsbury's has abandoned plans for an 80,000 sq ft superstore on Teesside after completing construction of the building and car park. |
| The supermarket chain said the site in Middlesbrough is "no longer viable" and has blamed changing UK shopping habits. | The supermarket chain said the site in Middlesbrough is "no longer viable" and has blamed changing UK shopping habits. |
| Middlesbrough Council approved the plans in 2013 and intended the store to form part of a £35m redevelopment of the Middlehaven area. | Middlesbrough Council approved the plans in 2013 and intended the store to form part of a £35m redevelopment of the Middlehaven area. |
| It said it now hoped another retailer would take on the site. | It said it now hoped another retailer would take on the site. |
| A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "We have not taken this decision lightly and are very disappointed we are not able to open a new shop in Middlesbrough. | A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "We have not taken this decision lightly and are very disappointed we are not able to open a new shop in Middlesbrough. |
| "Since the proposals were first announced, shopping patterns have changed considerably and following a review, the scheme is no longer viable for us. | "Since the proposals were first announced, shopping patterns have changed considerably and following a review, the scheme is no longer viable for us. |
| "We are now marketing the building to interested retailers and will focus support on our Wilson Street store." | "We are now marketing the building to interested retailers and will focus support on our Wilson Street store." |
| Middlesbrough Council unanimously backed development plans for Middlehaven in November 2013, including the Sainsbury's store and filling station, a KFC drive-through, coffee shop and restaurant. | Middlesbrough Council unanimously backed development plans for Middlehaven in November 2013, including the Sainsbury's store and filling station, a KFC drive-through, coffee shop and restaurant. |
| Councillor Charlie Rooney, executive member for regeneration, said: "It absolutely is a disappointment, but we need to move forward and not keep looking backwards at what might have been. | Councillor Charlie Rooney, executive member for regeneration, said: "It absolutely is a disappointment, but we need to move forward and not keep looking backwards at what might have been. |
| "It's still a good site and we can market it as a good site." | "It's still a good site and we can market it as a good site." |
| Retail consultant John Heagney said major supermarket chains are facing increased competition from discounters such as Lidl and Aldi. | |
| He said: "Nobody foresaw the massive impact of the European discounters and the old monthly shop has virtually gone out of the window as people shop little and often. | He said: "Nobody foresaw the massive impact of the European discounters and the old monthly shop has virtually gone out of the window as people shop little and often. |
| "The whole dynamic of retailing has changed." | "The whole dynamic of retailing has changed." |