EIGHT years after Tesco started buying up properties in London Road, the supermarket giant has finally ditched its controversial plans to build a store on the site.

The company has confirmed it will not be submitting a further planning application to build a giant store on the former Eversheds site, but intends to relocate its city centre store to the former Woolworths building in St Peters Street.

Nick Gellatly told the Review today: "We've been looking for the best way to improve the shopping trip for our St Albans customers for some time. Here we have an opportunity to almost double the sales area so that local people can get a great value weekly shop at Tesco in the city.

"We've taken this opportunity to look at the emerging local development framework too and to consider the future of our London Road site. I can confirm that we do not intend to submit a new application for a supermarket on this site.

"We've asked Spen Hill Developments Ltd, our subsidiary company, to look at alternative uses for the site and they will shortly begin discussions with the council. We will announce plans for the site in due course but they will not include a large store."

The announcement has delighted campaigners who have waged a long-running battle against the plans.

St Albans MP Anne Main said: “I think that this is the best outcome for St Albans. I have always maintained that the Eversheds site was unsuitable for such a massive store and that the associated traffic would be extremely bad for residents.

"I am pleased that Tesco has recognised this and chosen to focus on the disused Woolworths site, as this will bring an empty unit back into use, and Tesco already has a presence in St Peters Street.

"The issue now becomes what happens to the Eversheds site. I think it is important that a suitable use is found soon, preferably for a more suitable mixed scheme so that London Road entrance loses the tatty, derelict appearance and local residents have certainty over what is happening. We have a great opportunity to put something worthwhile on the site which could enhance the city, and I am pleased that Tesco have finally listened to the people of St Albans.”

St Albans district councillor for St Peter's ward Michael Green added: "It's very good news indeed. Obviously not many people beat Tesco at this game. All the campaigners involved deserve some significant thanks from the people of St Albans for the work they have put in to beat them off.

"Tesco has realised that this wasn't the right place and backed down and it should get some recognition for that."

Simon Hepburn of Stop Tesco, which played a key role in preventing the scheme from going ahead, said: "In the end they have done the right thing. It's what we wanted, we have always said the centre of town is the best place it could be. "But why have they taken so long - it's been ten years. It's an amazingly long time to be messing around. How much money have they lost looking after it? How much damage has been done to their reputation?"

Chairman of St Albans Civic Society Peter Trevelyan added: "It makes a lot of sense for them (Tesco), for us and for St Albans. It would bring additional retail into the town centre which desperately needs it."