Tesco has confirmed its plans for opening a new store on Dundee’s Murraygate.
The supermarket giant was forced to close its branch on the city centre street two and a half years ago when landlord Sports Direct demanded it vacate the premises.
But it is now set to open a new shop on the opposite side of the thoroughfare as part of a wider £6 million housing and retail development.
Tesco and Ramsdens to occupy units
Created by West Ranga Property Group, the site is expected to be completed in August and features another retail unit and 31 social flats.
It has now been confirmed Tesco will open its store in October after a fit-out, while Ramsdens pawnbrokers hopes to move into the other unit.
The development will comprise of basement and ground floors and four upper floors.
A spokesperson for the developer said: “West Ranga is delighted to see the continued progress of our Murraygate development.
“With completion anticipated in August, we look forward to welcoming Tesco back onto the Murraygate.
“The development, which has been five years in the making, would not have been possible without the fantastic input of our design team and local contractor George Martin together with full support from Dundee City Council.”
The closure of the Tesco in November 2019 left the branch’s 78 workers in shock and fearing for their jobs.
Some were given “extremely generous” redundancy packages while others were offered new roles elsewhere in the company.
It also left local shoppers frustrated due to a lack of supermarkets in the city centre with Tesco stating it was “really disappointed” in the decision to terminate its lease.
It had been a mainstay on the street, having opened 20 years earlier.
M&S to leave Murraygate as Tesco arrives
The new development will be situated at 11-15 Murraygate and also replaces the Xmas Shop which was destroyed in a major blaze in December 2014.
It comes after Marks & Spencer announced it is to close its shop on the same street in 2023 and open a new megastore nearby at the Gallagher Retail Park.
Tesco also has plans to open a store in the new Dundee railway station building.
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