Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Wiltshire council approves new Asda for Salisbury

The proposal was submitted to Wiltshire Council almost two years ago

Wiltshire council approves new Asda for Salisbury

PLANS for a new Asda in Salisbury have been approved by the strategic planning committee in Trowbridge county hall.

The proposal was discussed on Wednesday (17) and councillors voted unanimously in favour of the application.


The proposal was submitted to Wiltshire council almost two years ago, in June 2022, and requested permission to build a supermarket, petrol station and coffee drive-thru on London road, on the green space near Hampton Park Roundabout.

The development sparked controversy among local residents, with 64 representations made in support of the proposal and 72 informing the council of their objection.

In March 2023, Salisbury city council chose to oppose the application over environmental concerns.

Asda’s town planning manager was present at Wednesday’s strategic planning committee meeting and described the team as having worked “really hard” for the off-site biodiversity mitigation measures at the adjacent Country Park, which contribute to the application’s biodiversity net gain (BNG).

He said: “This could have been in front of you with a 1 per cent gain, but it isn’t, it’s a 10 per cent gain, that was our choice to overachieve.

“The off-site contribution could have been somewhere else, not in Salisbury, but it isn’t, it’s half a mile away.

“This an absolutely fantastic BNG case study.

“I’m very proud of it from an Asda point of view, but I think Wiltshire should be too.”

Regarding the objection lodged by Tesco, he added: “If Tesco did get their way and this application was refused, then our multimillion-pound investment wouldn’t be coming to Salisbury, our 200 plus jobs wouldn’t materialise, that really great BNG case study I talked about just wouldn’t happen, residents of Salisbury and the outer villages wouldn’t get a new, modern food store easily accessible to do their main food shop.”

Local councillors Charles McGrath and Ian McLennan also attended the meeting in Trowbridge to speak in favour of the plans.

A local objector’s concerns were read out by councillor McLennan, which included worries regarding increased traffic in the area, the impact on nearby wildlife, the potential for flooding, and “corporate crushing” for local traders.

However, councillor Ian McLennan supported the application.

Councillor McGrath clarified that he had “no opposition to this application” and that he believed it “delivers a lot of what Salisbury needs.”

He said: “Over the last two and half years where this application has been evolving, we’ve been kept in the loop at every step of the way, which I think is actually a fantastic credit to the applicants on this occasion, where we’ve been so involved in discussions around biodiversity net gain and some of the other issues that we, as the ward councillors, have brought forward.”

He added: “I’m slightly disappointed from a procedural point of view that we’ve had to come to Trowbridge today to discuss this.

“I know there are probably many reasons for that, but I think it would have been good if we’d had the opportunity to discuss this at a venue in Salisbury, given the impact this will have on the city.”

Councillor McGrath mentioned that the “vast majority” of the correspondence he’d received from residents had been positive, and that “most of the issues, if not all of the issues, have been resolved now.”

He concluded: “I really cannot see any downsides to this application.”

It was noted that the development could draw traffic away from congestion on Southampton road.

The strategic planning committee voted unanimously to approve the plans.

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More For You

Jio Platforms

Jio Platforms includes India’s largest telecom operator, Reliance Jio Infocomm, with more than 500 million users. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Jio IPO planned for mid-2026, AI unit announced with Meta and Google

RELIANCE Industries plans to take its telecom and digital arm, Jio Platforms, public by mid-2026, chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Friday. The announcement sets a new timeline for the long-awaited IPO of a business analysts value at over $100 billion.

At its annual general meeting (AGM), Reliance also announced the launch of an artificial intelligence unit in partnership with Google and Meta.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asda tech overhaul

Asda sales fell 0.2 per cent in the three months to June 30, 2025 (AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Asda boss hails tech overhaul as key to revival despite sales slump

THE chairman of Asda has admitted the supermarket chain still faces challenges after sales slipped again over the summer, but said the completion of a major IT overhaul was crucial for its recovery.

Allan Leighton told the Times that the long-delayed technology project, called Project Future, had finally been finished after years of setbacks and costs exceeding £1 billion. The work involved separating more than 2,500 systems inherited from former owner Walmart, following Asda’s 2021 takeover by TDR Capital.

Keep ReadingShow less
JLR-Getty

A logo is pictured outside a Jaguar Land Rover new car show room in Tonbridge, south east England. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

UK car exports to US rebound after trade deal

UK VEHICLE exports to the United States rose in July after a new trade deal between London and Washington reduced tariffs, industry data showed on Thursday.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), exports increased 6.8 per cent in July to nearly 10,000 units, following three consecutive months of decline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Relatives of jailed Briton appeal to UK minister in AgustaWestland row

Christian Michel

Relatives of jailed Briton appeal to UK minister in AgustaWestland row

THE family of Christian Michel, the British businessman accused of acting as a middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, has appealed to the UK government to push for his release from Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

Michel’s relatives met Foreign Office minister Catherine West in London on Tuesday (26). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the minister listened to their concerns and updated them on ongoing steps being taken.

Keep ReadingShow less
Blackburn loses Issa empire as brothers move EG Group to US

Zuber and Mohsin Issa (Photo: LDRS)

Blackburn loses Issa empire as brothers move EG Group to US

ASIAN entrepreneurs Mohsin and Zuber Issa are moving the headquarters of their global forecourt company, EG Group, from Blackburn to the US in preparation for a major stock market listing in New York.

The firm confirmed that its main office will relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina, while a new base in Bolton, Greater Manchester, will handle its remaining UK operations, the Telegraph reported. The change brings an end to almost 25 years of the company being run from Blackburn.

Keep ReadingShow less