SUPERMARKET bosses have unveiled proposals to turn the Shredded Wheat factory into a massive Tesco store.

SUPERMARKET bosses have unveiled proposals to turn the Shredded Wheat factory into a massive Tesco store.

The plans, being laid in front of Welwyn Hatfield councillors for the first time tonight (Thursday), will see the originally mooted swimming pool downgraded to a possible splash pool.

The shop, set to be developed inside the restored and converted Grade II-listed building, will have 50,000 sq ft of retail space making it the same size as the new Sainsbury’s development in WGC town centre and almost the size of Tesco’s store at Oldings, Hatfield.

The development to be probed by councillors is split into two parts – one for a small site including the Shredded Wheat factory, around 300 homes and the splash pool and a second proposal for the rest of the land the supermarket giant owns along Broadwater Road West.

Tesco bosses are looking to simply apply for outline planning permission on the second section, as opposed to a detailed proposal – which opponents say raises doubts over whether it intends to develop the majority of the site or sell it on to other developers.

Tesco’s corporate affairs manager Tony Fletcher said he was looking forward to the proposals being put under the spotlight by councillors tomorrow.

He said: “It’s important that people look at the full detail of the plans.

“Regeneration to that part of Welwyn is really needed. We hope that people keep an open mind and look at the proposals in the whole.”