RGDATA has accused Tesco of seeking to bully planning authorities in the mid west by claiming that new regional planning guidelines will cost jobs in Tesco's operations.  RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley was responding to a statement issued by Tesco relating to the Draft Planning Guidelines in the Mid West Region.

The Draft planning guidelines for the mid west region have recommended that there should be no net increase in floor space in large retail developments, other than that arising from redevelopment projects.

"This recommendation makes sense in current circumstances, when even the dogs in the street know that there has been an overprovision of retail space as a consequence of the building boom up to 2008," said RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley. "However,  rather than accept what is a practical and sustainable limitation in the amount of new retail space, Tesco has sought to bully planning authorities by alleging that the failure to facilitate their development plans and operating format will cost jobs".

Tara Buckley further commented;

"This is classic Tesco - engaging in some unsubstantiated scare mongering in an attempt to cajole councillors and planners to allow them build more and more out of town and edge of town retail developments. Tesco is wrong on a number of counts and these warnings should not be heeded. For a start, the planning authorities need to have regard to far more issues than just the business development plans of one global multinational retailer. They must look at the health of town centres, the level and stock of existing retail provision within the region and anticipated demand over the period of the regional planning guidelines. I would rather that this assessment is made by the planning authorities, rather than Tesco, whose unsustainable retailing format of large out of town retail boxes is a creature of the past, not part of the retailing landscape of the future. It is also important to bear in mind that the job displacement factor comes into play with Tesco. When a Tesco store opens in or usually outside a town this leads to the closure or curtailment of other businesses and the displacement of jobs right across the community. I hope that the local authorities and the planners will stand up to Tesco's grandstanding on this issue and not allow themselves to be led by the nose by self interested pleading by a global giant that operates an unsustainable retailing model."

For information contact Cathy at RGDATA 01-2887584 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Tara Buckley

Director General

RGDATA