AN APPLICATION is to be submitted this spring for retail giant Tesco to create a supermarket at the former Focus DIY site in Tavistock.

Marchfield Properties, which owns the site at Tavistock Retail Park in Plymouth Road, is preparing to hold a public exhibition in advance of a formal planning application for a medium-sized foodstore of 17,000 sq ft.

If approved, the proposals would bring the unit, which has been vacant for more than 18 months, back into use and could create up to 100 jobs.

The news follows supermarket chain Asda announcement last week that it wants to open a store on greenfield land opposite Bishopsmead — the site that was the subject of an unsuccessful appeal by Sainsbury's in 2009.

The Tesco planning application will seek permission to widen the range of goods that can be sold from the site within the existing building, and to allow for the removal of the former garden centre area to provide additional car parking.

The store would sell some household items but not large white goods or clothing because it does not want to compete with town retailers,' said the company. It will be primarily designed to give people an extra choice for their food shopping.

The workforce will be made up of 25% full-time staff and 75% part-time staff, a ratio which usually meets the demand of the majority of people who apply to work at Tesco.

Jonathan James, of Marchfield Properties, said: 'Everyone we have spoken to wants to see this prominent site brought back into economic use. 

'Tesco has demonstrated its commitment to make this happen and is prepared to make a considerable investment in Tavistock and in doing so fulfil the need for greater choice for shoppers as well as providing much needed employment opportunities for job seekers in the town. 

'We recognise the importance of the town centre and that there is an essential balance to be struck and our proposal is more than a third smaller than the previous Sainsbury's application.  

'This is also brownfield land with an existing retail planning consent and the building has been empty for nearly two years with no interest from DIY occupiers. 

'We hope the council will treat this application on its merits and we are keen to engage with local business groups and the wider community in a positive way though the consultation process.'  

Melanie Chiswell, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said the supermarket company was looking forward to sharing its plans with the people of Tavistock.

'At present, shoppers need to travel to Roborough or Launceston to shop with us,' she said.

'The feedback we've received locally is that a medium-sized supermarket would be welcomed by residents, increasing choice to shoppers for their main food shop and providing a boost to the wider economy of the town.'

'We fully appreciate the unique character of Tavistock's historic town centre and we are confident that a medium-size, well stocked supermarket will benefit residents by providing an alternative to Morrisons.

'We look forward to working with local businesses and seeking their feedback on how we can use our store to encourage more people to visit the town centre's diverse and independent range of high quality specialist shops.'

The planning application will be submitted in the spring. Ahead of that, Marchfield Properties and Tesco will be continuing their consultation with the local community and will host a public exhibition about their proposals in April.

A website with information about the proposals will be launched shortly. Any questions or comments can also be emailed to [email protected]">[email protected]

If the Tesco and Asda applications are successul, it will bring to four the number of major supermarkets in the Plymouth Road area. Morrisons and Lidl already have stores there.