WEST Way developer Doric Properties has yet to sign a deal with a supermarket to anchor its £100m regeneration scheme.

The company said last night it was still in discussions as it was revealed that unsuccessful rival bidders had been lining up with Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys and Mid-Counties Co-operative.

Doric wants to knock down the West Way shopping centre, Elms Parade shops, Field House sheltered housing and the Elms Court office block to build a supermarket, cinema, gym, health centre, shops, 50 flats and 525 student rooms.

Doric’s third set of amended plans, currently being consulted on, contained an 8,000 square metre anchor superstore.

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The plans are due to be considered by the Vale of White Horse District Council planning committee in November.

Doric founding director Simon Hillcox said: “We can confirm that we remain in discussions with potential supermarket operators.”

Local campaign group West Way Community Concern said that without a large superstore there was no need to demolish the 1930s Elms Parade frontage.

The group’s chairman Chris Church said the lack of a supermarket could derail the developers’ plans and that it raised several questions over the scheme.

He said: “We have been told for a long time that negotiations are going forward and nothing has happened. We now know that supermarkets were initially interested in the scheme. If there is no demand for an 8,000 square metre supermarket then there is no need to demolish Elms Parade.

“Doric have said for a long time that this development needs a store of this size to make the development work, so if there is no such superstore then this raises several fundamental questions.”

In a statement released to the campaign group in August, Asda ruled itself out of the West Way scheme and Sainsbury’s then did the same.

A spokeswoman from Mid-Counties Co-operative, the current occupier in West Way shopping centre, said: “We are not working with Doric Properties and remain opposed to the plans that have been submitted for West Way shopping centre.”

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