SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's is believed to be the latest store to pitch a bid to be built in Newquay.
It is thought the major chain is planning to open a store for the Duchy of Cornwall's Nansledan development off Quintrell Road and behind Hendra Road.
It would be the second Sainsbury's to open in Newquay and it is believed the current town centre store will remain open if a new store is built on the 218-hectare (538 acres) greenfield site.
The duchy, which has previously announced that it was in advanced negotiations with a top chain for the development, is remaining tight-lipped about whether it is a Sainsbury's store, but Cornwall councillor for Newquay's Tretherras ward Pat Lambshead, who has been involved in the duchy scheme for nearly ten years, said he has "heard" that it is.
Plans submitted for the Duke of Cornwall's estate include 800 new homes, a primary school, a church, and shops as part of the Newquay Growth Area.
Newquay town planners unanimously backed the Nansledan scheme but Cornwall Council will have the final say on the plans.
Mr Lambshead told the Cornish Guardian that it is the "most important development in Newquay for decades" and the supermarket was "vital" for the town as it will, in effect, pay for the infrastructure.
"This is the future of Newquay as it will bring affordable housing, jobs of a high quality and competition to the only other major supermarket in town, being Morrisons," he said.
"The inclusion of a sizeable supermarket, which I have heard is Sainsbury's, will bring not only jobs but the needed competition to Morrisons.
"It should further be stated that if it were to be Sainsbury's I understand they have agreed to keep the Newquay central store open."
He said that within Newquay's framework there is room for only one more supermarket at the resort within the foreseeable future.
Three supermarkets have been earmarked for the town – this one at Nansledan, the developers behind Kingsley Village have submitted outline planning permission for a 90,000sq ft supermarket at the Trevithick Manor Estate and Tretherras Academy has come under fire over its intention to sell off part of its grounds to Tesco.
This week the Duchy of Cornwall and Sainsbury's remained tight-lipped.
A Duchy of Cornwall spokesman said it could confirm that while food retail "would help" to deliver the council's Newquay Strategic Route it was not essential. He added: "Retailers continue discussions with us but the duchy would prefer not to comment further until after a planning decision is made by Cornwall Council."
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said it was always looking to improve the store's offer to customers in Newquay but at present has no confirmed plans.
