Tesco's unauthorised car park (From Echo)

Tesco's unauthorised car park

6:26pm Tuesday 30th October 2007 in News By Jon Austin

TESCO bosses could be forced to pull down a multi-storey car park they built without permission.

Basildon Council is considering legal action after the supermarket giant created the makeshift 111 space, first-floor car park, next to the Tesco Extra store in Pitsea.

The car park, made from a series of metal girders, was put up in just four days. But the firm has only just applied for planning application.

Ann Blake, a Pitsea South East councillor who sits on the authority's development control committee, is appalled.

She said: "I can't believe a firm like Tesco would develop without permission. I hate any form of retrospective application, it is defying the planning laws."

Council spokesman Chris Johnson said: "As with any unauthorised development, we are considering whether it is appropriate to take enforcement action."

Tesco maintains the structure, assembled by specialist firm Another Level, is a temporary measure for six months while Essex County Council workers carry out structural repair work on Pitsea flyover.

Tesco spokesman Michael Kissman could not explain why planning permission had not been sought sooner.

He said: "The temporary car park has been built because the county council's highways department need to repair the flyover. We have worked with the highways team to allow prompt access to our property for this public road maintenance."

Scott Wilson, county council highways spokesman, said the authority had negotiated access.

Norman Hume, county councillor responsible for highways, added: "How Tesco designates and develops its land is a matter between it and the planning authority. We have an agreement to use a small part of the Tesco car park during repair works on the underside of the flyover."