In the event, we must await the name of the likely anchor supermarket at the heart of the £22mil Dinbych/Denbigh station yard development. It was *not* revealed today by developer Cathco, as expected. Instead, the district needs to hold its collective breath till the formal planning application, due at the end of the month or early next.The smart money’s still on either Tesco or Asda.
Can Tesco or any supermarket sustain another outlet so close to Rhuthun/Ruthin’s Tesco and Dinbych’s Morrison’s? Although one branch may cannibalise another, Tesco’s strategy is in-fill and market share. Witness Treffynnon/Holywell under build and plans for Pretstayn. It is not deterred by any local self-competition. In any event, Dinbych’s population is twice the size of Rhuthun and likely to sustain a store. That it will be larger than Rhuthun’s does mean Rhuthun residents may go for any Tesco in Dinbych (or whatever it may be), especially when coupled with 19 other units ranging in size from small to medium.
Dinbych/Denbigh’s Cathco development itself seems to be welcomed within the town. One politician in a local paper felt Dinbych had to look to the future. There is rightly some concern about the extent to which Cathco’s free parking at the bottom of Vale Street will affect shops at the top of the town. Cathco states, however, it has a number of businesses interested that wish to come to Dinbych that are otherwise unable to do so simply because there isn’t enough suitable floor space in the town itself.
After the grant of outline planning permission later this month or early next comes full planning and a start on site in spring 2008.
Expect the development to be open in 2009, after which Rhuthun will have a run for its money.
Cathco’s Station Yard site promises:
- A leading national supermarket chain.
- Leading food, electrical goods and clothing retailers.
- A restaurant and bar.
- Redevelopment of a run down site, since the closure of KwikSave.
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Tesco