A new 24-hour opening Asda store is to be built at the site of a current petrol station in Farnworth. Planning permission has been granted for EG Group to demolish the current Esso garage on Long Causeway, Farnworth, and create an Asda convenience store.
The new shop will be around half a mile from Asda’s superstore in Farnworth on Brackley Street and even closer to the Tesco superstore further along Long Causeway. Plans approved by Bolton council this week said the store, when open, will generate up to 25 full-time and part-time jobs.
A planning officer report, said: “The proposed store will fulfil a local ‘top up’ function rather than act as a comprehensive convenience store. The store is to have a 24-hour opening period. “Job opportunities within the store will be across a range of scales. In addition to jobs within the store itself, other employment opportunities will be created through the construction phase.”
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The Blackburn-based EG Group, run by the Issa family, also own the Asda brand and operate petrol stations and convenience stores in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. In planning statements in support of the change, the firm said: “The existing petrol filling station is under performing and positive alternative uses have been sought to stop long-term vacancy”.
The statement, added: “The application is being pursued to enable the site to be occupied by national retailer ASDA. The use of the land as a convenience store would result in a continuation of a retail use at the site, enabling job retention and creation and an increased level of choice and value for customers who will overwhelmingly be drawn from the immediate locality.”
Three letters of objection were received by Bolton Council raising issues including one which stated: “No need for another shop. Tesco is less than 150m away, Lidl less than 800m and Asda is less than 900m away.”
Other objections included ‘noise from cars and construction and ‘anti-social behaviour at landscaping areas.’
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