Does Asda have its sights set on Barnstaple?
By awilshaw ASDA is planning to open a large supermarket on a key riverfront site in Barnstaple town centre, the North Devon Journal understands. Well-placed sources said the supermarket firm has been negotiating with Leaderflush Shapland to build a superstore on the latter’s land next to the River Taw. There is expected to be a significant announcement this autumn. If Asda, which is owned by American firm Wal-Mart, submitted a planning application to build a supermarket there, it would be in addition to an existing plan for a new Tesco superstore in the town centre. Tesco, which secretly bought Brian Ford’s in 2003, has already lodged a plan to build a large two-storey Extra supermarket — less than half-a-mile from the Leaderflush site.