Tesco forced to let?

10:36am Monday 15th October 2007

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SUPERMARKET giant Tesco could soon be forced to let tenants move into empty homes it owns in London Road.

With the company rethinking its plans for a store, district council planning chief Chris Brazier wants to use legal powers to take over the properties.

He told the Review: "St Albans may have been voted the new Mayfair, but London Road looks more like Old Kent Road."

Several homes and shops in the area, bought up by Tesco to make room for a supermarket, have been empty and boarded up for years, and local traders have say their shabby appearance is damaging their business.

Councillor Brazier said that with the firm launching a fresh consultation, there was no prospect of a planning application before next spring.

In view of the protracted delays, he is asking council officers to use the 2004 Housing Act to take over the properties temporarily.

He hopes to repair the homes, let them to people on the housing waiting list and use the rent to cover the costs.