A LONG running retail development saga which has blighted a town looks set to reach its end next week.
Prestatyn is preparing to undergo its long overdue shopping shake-up with news that plans by retail developer Stadium Developments and supermarket giant Tesco are to be formally submitted.
The detailed planning applications are set to be delivered to Denbighshire County Council’s planning department from September 20 and will then go out for public consultation.
The Journal has also learned that town councillors will attend a special meeting next week with those behind the scheme to discuss the development.
Cllr James Davies, of Prestatyn East ward on Denbighshire County Council, who has been monitoring the long drawn out saga, hoped residents would feel the development was worth the wait, believing the development will be vital to Prestatyn’s regeneration.
He said: “It has been going on since the 1990s.
“It has been devastating. The good news however is that there’s there is now a very high quality development around the corner.”
“I think it will be hard for the people of Prestatyn to accept,” he said.
“There has been so much delay over the years no-one will believe it’s going to happen.
“From contact with Stadium and the council there’s real progress and we have to just hope when plans are outlined later this month that they impress people and they can be put into action as soon as possible.”
Tesco finally secured the land they needed to establish its store in May 2009 following a compulsory purchase order process at the same time as Stadium Developments were about to start work on their retail complex on land adjacent to the supermarket giant’s proposed store.
The separate developments were not integrated and with the added pain of the economic downturn councillor Davies said: “Essentially it all ground to a halt.
“For the last year and a bit there have been detailed negotiations going on between the two companies. Before reaching a deal a few months back.
“Ever since they have been discussing detailed aspects of the design including where the petrol station is going and the best uses of the land.”
Tesco reiterated in June its commitment to Prestatyn revealing it was working with Stadium Developments on a new planning application for the site, which would create new jobs and boost the town’s economy.
Prestatyn Town councillor Gerry Frobisher said: “We have waited so long for this and perhaps this is the time it’s finally going to really happen.
“This will be an out-of-town development bang in the centre of Prestatyn - which will be different.”
Gemma Lawman, chair of Prestatyn Business Association, said: “Great news about Tesco. I personally think anything on the eyesore at the bottom at town is a plus.”