TESCO says it is committed to bringing its largest style of

store to Derby – but has not yet agreed on a suitable site.

The news comes after the supermarket giant confirmed it was

no longer interested in developing the former Debenhams site in

Victoria Street.

The firm said the reason it withdrew from buying the site

was because its plans had become too costly and access would

have been difficult.

The store was planning the wider development of the site,

not just the Debenhams store but incorporating surrounding land

in the Becket Well area.

A spokesman for Tesco said costs were soaring into many

millions of pounds and would have made the scheme one of the

firm's most expensive.

He said: “There were quite a few difficulties working out

the access and, with the costs, we shelved those particular

plans.

“However we are committed to coming to Derby with a larger

store and we are now working out where that should be.”

Tesco could not confirm what sites it was interested in but

said the type of store it wanted to build was its Tesco Extra –

a full-size hypermarket which sells electrical and homeware

goods with food.

Derby commercial property agent Russell Rigby said: “While

it's disappointing the Becket Well area has lost its anchor

retail operator, there are still opportunities to regenerate

that side of the city centre around Debenhams.

“I know Tesco are very serious about acquiring land in

central Derby.”

The future of the Debenhams site, meanwhile, remains

undecided.

It is owned by Westfield, which said there were still a

number of parties interested in buying it.

A spokeswoman said: “We cannot say any more because of the

commercial sensitivity.”

Developer Peter Gadsby is one of those interested in the

site. He not available for comment today.