Questions have been raised over why construction of a new supermarket in Spreydon has not started.
Foodstuffs say no date has been confirmed for when work will start and be completed at the site on the corner of Lyttelton St and Lincoln Rd.
Resource consent was granted in November 2017 for a New World to be built on the site where the old Supervalue used to be. The site has been sitting empty since the Supervalue building was demolished.
Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board member Lee Sampson said residents are confused why the construction of the new supermarket has not started. He said they feel a new one is needed in the area.
“We lost Supervalue and people are kind of just wondering what’s going on and I think they’d really like a New World there to be honest.
“It’s resource consented, so all the outline plan with most of the drawings is approved by council, but then it’s just nothing’s moved since then, so I’m just curious to find out why Foodstuffs aren’t moving forward with it or if they’re abandoning their plans or if their just putting it on hold.”
Said Foodstuffs general manager of property and retail development Roger Davidson: “We absolutely understand our neighbours’ frustration and uncertainty about what will happen next on that site – but can only go as quickly as planning, consents and building industry processes and availabilities allow.
“There’s not too much we can say at this stage, other than we are going through a careful process to establish how we best meet the needs of the community all while being fiscally and environmentally prudent.”
Said Mr Sampson: “I thought they would have had a date or a target date by now. To be honest, I think what’s happening is because they [Foodstuffs] have bought a whole stave of land out in Halswell, I wonder if they’re second-guessing the viability of that [Lyttelton St/Lincoln Rd] site?”
