TESCO have hit back at claims by a scaffolding company that it was not consulted over plans for a new supermarket development in Bromley-by-Bow. The Advertiser reported last week how TRAD Scaffolding, which employs 300 people at its Bromley-by-Bow site, s

TESCO have hit back at claims by a scaffolding company that it was not consulted over plans for a new supermarket development in Bromley-by-Bow.

The Advertiser reported last week how TRAD Scaffolding, which employs 300 people at its Bromley-by-Bow site, said that Tesco's proposals are being pushed through the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation's planning system without landowners being consulted and that hundreds of jobs would be wiped out.

But a spokesman for Tesco said the supermarket giant had been in negations for 'some time' and was still waiting for a response from its latest contact in April.

He said: "Dialogue with a full range of stakeholders - including local residents, community groups, local businesses and elected representatives - has been a key element in the evolution of our proposals for Bromley-by-Bow.

"This included a public exhibition in September last year to which residents and businesses from 5,062 local addresses were invited."

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation's planning committee will consider Tesco's application at its meeting on Wednesday, May 26.

If approved, the new development at the side of the A12 Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road will include a new, bigger supermarket, more shop units with 468 poarking spaces, 403 flats with 183 parking spaces, a primary school and children's centre as well as parks, squares and access roads.

A spokesman for London Thames Gateway Development Corporation said TRAD had even submitted its own application four years ago to redevelop the site for housing, which was refused because it would have "compromised the redevelopment of the whole area".

She said that the corporation had been working with Tower Hamlets council to produce a detailed planning framework which was developed with Bromley-by-Bow residents and businesses.

She said: "LTGDC has been looking to landowners and developers to work collaboratively to facilitate comprehensive redevelopment in the area.

"A rare opportunity has now been put forward by Tesco to transform a large underutilised area to create a new district centre, which in turn will create new jobs and much needed housing for the local community.