No Circus site for Tesco

Supermarket giant sells former Master Brewer land to help raise funds

TESCO has abandoned its plans to build a superstore at the old Master Brewer site, near Hillingdon Circus.

The supermarket giant’s development arm Spenhill has agreed to sell the unused site in Hillingdon, along with 13 others in London and the South East to property developer Meyer Bergman.

The deal is expected to raise £250m for the retailer and is part of its current desire to “strengthen its balance sheet”.

Campaigners who have opposed Tesco say they are delighted but are waiting to see what the new owners will do.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: “Since announcing our decision to build fewer stores we have been working with Meyer Bergman to bring forward investment on our Spenhill sites. We are very pleased to have agreed a deal with Meyer Bergman.”

Oak Farm Residents’ Association, which covers the Hillingdon East ward, fought the plans for a 24-hour store.

Chairman Connie Evans said: “It would have decimated all the local businesses that are already struggling.

“The store would have been open 24 hours a day, which would have seen extra vehicles on Long Lane in Ickenham and all surrounding roads.”

She said residents are not opposed to housing at the site, as long as it is not high density.

Mrs Evans added: “Extra people would give our local shops a good lift. But if they’re going to build housing or flats and they’re building them to minimum standards, then I will be very much against it and so will my members. We’ve got to see which way the cat jumps.”

Others, including Linda Harrison from Eastcote, think the Master Brewer site should become a hospital.

She said: “I believe that site is perfect for a new hospital, which is badly needed. Hillingdon Hospital is a pain to get to, has serious parking issues and is outdated. The Master Brewer site is fully accessible by bus and train.”

The site, at Hillingdon Circus, is a stone’s throw away from Hillingdon Tube station, and is served by a number of buses.

Oak Farm Residents’ Association will discuss the site at future meetings. They are held on the first Tuesday of the month at Hillingdon Baptist Church on Hercies Road at 7pm.