News

Hopes of supermarket giant Asda trading from the planned Dover Town Investment Zone have been dashed after the company decided to pull out of the major development in the town.

The company said it was disappointed but, "there were key areas that we could not agree on, such as design requirements and the operation of the shoppers’ car park."

Asda Stores Ltd made the announcement that following an internal review of its involvement in the Dover Town Investment Zone proposals, the company has decided to withdraw its plans for a new store in the scheme.

Dover District Council expressed its disappointment that, following the granting of planning permission last year, Asda has chosen to withdraw having decided that their part of the scheme is no longer commercially viable.

The Council has already confirmed with Bond City, its development partner, that existing commitments for a hotel and other housing aspects of the scheme will be able to progress for other areas of the site.

Dover District Council has now started to review alternative options to replace Asda  as a matter of urgency.

The Leader of Dover District Council, Councillor Paul Watkins, said: “I am disappointed that, after all of the effort the Council, Asda and our partner Bond City have put into this development, we are not able to continue with Asda as a partner for this part of the Dover Town Investment Zone scheme. We will now work hard to secure the rest of the development and seek a new partner to replace Asda.”

An Asda spokesperson said: "We are very disappointed but despite the best efforts of all concerned, we have had to end our involvement in the scheme. There were key areas that we could not agree on, such as design requirements and the operation of the shoppers’ car park.

"We want to invest in Dover but unfortunately we will not be able to bring forward an Asda store on this site. We hope that the Council and Bond City will be able to progress the regeneration of the area with another partner and we wish them well."

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2010