PLANS for a controversial new supermarket in the Brighton Hill area of Basingstoke will go on display next week.

Tesco will be holding a public exhibition on September 5 and 6 at Viables Community Centre to showcase their plans for a new supermarket and 48 homes on the former Smiths Industries site, in The Harrow Way.

Residents are invited to view the plans at the community centre, in The Harrow Way between 1pm and 7pm on September 5 and 12noon and 3.30pm on September 6.

The supermarket says the new store will provide 200 new full and part-time jobs.

As reported by The Gazette, in July 2012, the company was refused permission to build a 63,000 sq ft store on the same site.

An appeal against the rejection of the plans by Basingstoke and Deane borough councillors was also dismissed last year by the Government’s planning inspectorate following a seven-day planning inquiry, because of the impact on nearby shops. Tesco has now come forward with revised plans.

Jack Pearson, Tesco’s regional corporate affairs manager, said: “We want to share our new plans with the local community and encourage people to come along and chat to us about them.

“Members of our development team will be on hand throughout the exhibition to explain our ideas and answer any questions visitors may have.”

He added: “We believe that a smaller store, around two-thirds the size of the one originally suggested, will still provide a great new shopping experience.

“It will also allow us to regenerate the rest of the brownfield site by building up to 48 attractive new homes for the local community, which will include much-needed affordable housing.”