'It's going to look like a filling in a set of teeth': Howls of protest from Sandbanks millionaires over plans for 'downmarket' Tesco

It’s the sandy peninsula that has become Britain’s most exclusive and expensive neighbourhood.
With property prices averaging £532,000 and millionaires on every street, image is everything in Sandbanks, Dorset.
So the inevitable howls of protest followed when plans were announced to transform a pub into a Tesco Express.

Eyesore: Supermarket giant Tesco has unveiled plans to transform the Sandacres pub in Poole Harbour into one of its convenience stores, much to the annoyance of locals

Going: The shut down Sandacres pub, which is due to be replaced by a Tesco

Sea views: The new Tesco will have exclusive sea views near to those on the Millionaire's Row of Sandbanks

Many residents believed the ‘downmarket’ high street brand was inappropriate and the logo too garish for the world’s fourth most expensive area.

 

But with planning permission not required for the conversion it seems that the well-heeled folk of Sandbanks will have to put up with a Tesco in their midst instead of the more ‘suitable’ Marks and Spencer.

Protests: Residents are angry about plans and say they would prefer a Waitrose or Marks and Spencer

Sales director and local resident Ross Stallion, 36, said: ‘The area could do with a convenience store but a Waitrose or Marks and Spencer would be better suited.’
Peter Oliver, the manager of the Cafe Shore eatery on Sandbanks, said: ‘Having a Tesco here with their bright logo is going to be a real eyesore.
‘It’s going to look like a filling in a set of teeth. A Marks and Spencer would have been much better suited to the area and would have blended in well.
‘I don’t drive so the store would be useful but I’d rather have something that looked nice instead of a logo that stands out from a mile away.
‘Everyone is saying the same thing and I don’t think many people will be happy about it.’ Others have questioned the increase in noise and traffic caused by lorries making deliveries.
The Tesco store is taking over the Sandacres pub that overlooks the harbour.
The hostelry closed last week, fuelling speculation about what would become of the property.
And Tesco have now confirmed the switch.
Melanie Chiswell, a spokeswoman for Tesco, said: ‘It will be a local shop for local people. We don’t require planning permission because pubs can be converted to shops without planning permission under permitted development rights.
‘In my experience lots of people welcome Tesco Express stores because they regenerate buildings no longer in use, such as closed down pubs.

Millionaires Row: Despite being some distance from the exclusive homes in Sandbanks those living there have kicked up a fuss about the plans

‘We don’t have to knock the building down, can return some of its nice original features and improve the look of it.’
The peninsula only trails behind London, New York and Tokyo in terms of property prices. It’s most famous resident is football manager Harry Redknapp, but numerous other millionaires from the worlds of business and sport own properties there.
On the most expensive street property prices average £2.04 million and it is not uncommon for individual homes to sell for at least £5 million.