Work on Tesco extension poised to start in January
Tesco's planned extension of its South Road supermarket is due to get underway in January, the company confirmed this week.
Plans to increase the sales space of the store by 870m² and to provide an additional 330m² of storage and staff space at the back of the shop were approved by the SIC's planning board amid howls of protest from other retailing organisations back in December.
Store manager Paul Clelland said this week that the work would commence in early next year and should be completed by late April or early May.
During the 16-week programme of work, he said, there would be "minimal disruption" to customers and he does not anticipate having to close the store at any stage.
Tesco said at the time of the application that it hoped to be able to create up to 39 full and part-time jobs as a result of the extension, but the Lerwick Town Centre Association described the development as "a step too far" and claimed there was the potential for the displacement of more than £8 million-worth of trade and the possible loss of up to 276 jobs.