New Tesco Supermarket for Aviemore

The Cairngorms National Park Authority has approved plans to develop a new Tesco supermarket in Aviemore – bringing hundreds of local job opportunities to the area and providing a new and improved shopping experience for local residents.

The plans for a new supermarket at Grampian Road will deliver a 30,000 sq ft (sales area) supermarket which will offer a wide variety of grocery products and is designed to meet existing demand and create more choice in the local area.

Doug Wilson, Corporate Affairs Manager for Tesco, commented: “It is greatly encouraging that the Cairngorms National Park Authority has supported our proposals for Aviemore. We wholeheartedly share the community’s enthusiasm to bring a new supermarket to Aviemore, in addition to creating employment opportunities for local people.

“We are delighted with the support that we received today and it is clear that members recognise the level of community support for our plans, in addition to the benefits that they will bring to the local area and the economy.”

Duncan Bryden, CNPA Planning Committee Chairman, said: “This new supermarket in Aviemore will generate local jobs, help the Park economy and reduce car journeys to shop in Inverness. We are really pleased to be able to grant it planning permission. The design uses local stone and timber and will add to the Aviemore streetscape. Many green features have been included to lower the carbon footprint of the store.

“We raised serious concerns with Tesco about wildlife conservation, in particular a rare population of the Northern Damselfly living on the site and these are being carefully addressed. Firm planning conditions attached to the permission require their sensitive relocation to another suitable pond nearby. Specialists including the British Dragonfly Society have offered to provide their expert advice to ensure a successful transfer.

“Our role does not end today and we will continue to provide guidance and advice on these matters, ensuring the development can move forward as quickly as possible.”

Doug Wilson continued: “The timescales for this project will be driven by the translocation of the habitats of the damselfly, and we will continue to work extremely closely with the National Park Authority to find a successful conclusion.”

The new Tesco in Aviemore will be a great example of environmentally friendly design, which has seen Tesco hailed as one of the UK’s greenest companies at the Guardian Newspaper’s Sustainable Business Awards, for its success to-date and ambitious plans to become a zero carbon company by 2050.

The planning report can be read in full here.