Tesco and Sainsbury's eye Kendal for new stores (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Tesco and Sainsbury's eye Kendal for new stores

8:40am Thursday 1st July 2010

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TWO supermarket giants are battling it out to secure prime sites for new stores in Kendal.

Sainsbury’s has announced plans to build a store – rumoured to be on the site of Kendal Rugby Club – but has said it will not be on Canal Head, due to Tesco being in advanced talks with the land owners, Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd.

Sainsbury’s regional development executive Jo Try said: “Sainsbury’s would like to open a store in Kendal, and hopes to go public with plans soon.

“However, any proposed store will not be at Canal Head as we believe that Tesco has acquired part of the site and is in advanced talks with Gilkes to build a store there.

“Sainsbury’s has been looking for a store in Kendal for some time now, as we believe there is considerable demand for our brand in the area.”

Shoppers currently have to travel to Carnforth or Cocker-mouth for the nearest Sains-bury’s.

Tesco refused to confirm any plans for Canal Head but its director of corporate affairs Doug Wilson said: “We do have aspirations to open up a store in Kendal and we are fully aware of the situation at Canal Head and we are looking on with interest.”

The 20-acre site at Canal Head has been the centre of a £100 million renaissance redevelop-ment scheme launched in August last year.

It proposes to re-instate the old Lancaster Canal and create 5,000 square metres of office space, 650 car parking spaces, a 100-bed hotel, several retail outlets and 200 houses.

A new bridge over the River Kent and a walkway link from Kendal Castle to town are also proposed.

Charles Crewdson, of Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon, said they had been looking for larger premises for more than four years, He added: “There has been huge interest in the site and we will be looking for a large retailer to be the catalyst to get the Canal Head redevelopment up and running.

“Talks between ourselves and retailers have been positive and we hope to have applications in within three or four months when we have decided on the right partner.”

With four supermarkets in Kendal already, some question whether a town of 28,000 people is big enough to support two more supermarkets.

SLDC’s portfolio holder for Economic Prosperity Graham Vincent said: “I am not surprised that both Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s want to get into Kendal, but it poses many questions about the benefits either would have on the town.

“In terms of Canal Head being a possible location, the initial reaction as to whether or not it would have a benefit is yes, as it would allow shoppers to come and visit the town centre on the other side of the river.

“However, the issue of traffic in an already congested town centre is a major concern and if such a proposal went through I would like to see the whole town centre restructured in terms of traffic management.”

Kendal’s exisiting major supermarkets said they were not worried about new stores opening.

A spokesman for Asda, on Burton Road, said: “We welcome competition, however, it is for the people of Kendal to decide whether they would like more stores in the town.”

A spokesperson from Morrisons, Queen Katherine Avenue, said: “Morrisons is well established within Kendal, and has been serving shoppers for over 18 years.”

Sainsbury’s are also seeking a site for a store in Ambleside.

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