Tesco plans to build 4,000 new homes on land originally intended for supermarkets, according to reports.
The Guardian reported that the supermarket giant possessed 310 sites that did not have Tesco stores built on them, with the firm having enough land for 15,000 homes in total. The Guardian added that one Tesco site now earmarked for housing was in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, which is close to the company’s operational headquarters and where Tesco hopes to build more than 700 homes.
Tesco is apparently considering building some of the homes through its development wing Spenhill while selling sites to developers.
In the past, the supermarket chain has built homes above or next to its stores.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “In response to changing customer shopping habits we have decided to reduce the amount of new store space we build each year, building fewer large stores. Where we no longer intend to develop sites, we sell them, lease them or develop them for housing.
“We are pleased to be bringing new investment to communities up and down the country and playing our part in meeting local housing needs over the coming years.”
