Tesco’s plans to build a new Cupar superstore have been shelved, it has been confirmed.
The supermarket giant said it had pulled the plug on the proposals due to changes in shopping habits, five years after planning permission was granted to establish a 50,000 sq ft store on South Road.
The announcement comes despite repeated assurances over the years that the shop would be built.
Instead the company has said it will apply for planning permission to extend its current shop, a move it says demonstrates its commitment to the town.
Councillor Bryan Poole slammed Tesco, however, and said it has cheated the people of Cupar.
“My concern was that the threat of a big store hanging about would inhibit investment in small shops in Cupar,” he said.
“Who was going to buy a shop when there was the prospect of a huge Tesco?
“They are selfish and have no commitment to the communities they serve other than just taking from them. They need to take a hard look at themselves.”
Tesco’s scaling back of its Cupar proposals come as councillors this week will discuss plans by Aldi to open a store on the former Martex site in the town.
Tesco intends to sell excess land near its current store for housing and leisure development.
Detailing the company’s decision, a spokesperson for Tesco said: “Having carefully reviewed a number of options, we have decided to make a multi-million-pound investment in extending our current store in Cupar and completing a major refurbishment.
“This will allow us to provide our customers in Cupar with a wider range of products and a better shopping experience. We have been committed for some time to improving our offer for customers in Cupar.
“However, with customer shopping habits moving away from very large stores, we no longer feel the 50,000 sq ft store we had previously planned is the best way to serve the local community. Providing we secure planning approval, we hope to be able to complete the extension and refurbishment in late 2015 or early 2016.”