Mission Creep

A story from Falkirk today shows the folly of trying to put boundaries around Tesco in the planning process. Two years ago, the supermarket giant was given permission for a 3716 sq m store (40,000 sq ft). According to Falkirk News Today, in the middle of construction last year Tesco laid down tools. It has now gone back to the council to ask to almost double the size of the store to 6490 sq m (70,000 sq ft)

The website reports that before construction began an initial application for a non-food store was withdrawn 'when it appeared unlikely the store would win approval'. It would not come as shock to us to find out that the extra space in the new planning application will be used for non-food items. This would put the council in a quandry - would they then refuse the planning application on the original grounds and risk leaving the site with a half-built supermarket on it, or give permission?

And in the meantime, the people of Falkirk seem to be getting on fine without the supermarket!

Here's a reminder of a similar case in Abingdon.