AROUND 400 people attended a public exhibition to look at revised plans to build a Tesco store in Basingstoke.

Representatives from the supermarket were on hand at Viables Community Centre last Friday and Saturday to answer questions from members of the public viewing the proposals.

Tesco is planning to submit plans to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council within the next few months, after its original application was refused in July 2012.

It has now come back with a smaller scale plan, having unsuccessfully appealed to the Government’s planning inspector against the borough council’s initial refusal of its original scheme.

Tesco is now looking to build a smaller store and gain permission for up to 48 new homes to be built on the brownfield former Smiths Industries site.

This part of the site, which faces on to The Harrow Way, would then be sold to developers to build the homes, if planning permission is granted.

Although Tesco plans to build a smaller store than it originally planned, it still intends to deliver a major investment to improve the local road network, through a £5million package, which was previously approved by Hampshire County Council.

This would include installing synchronised signals at the Brighton Hill Roundabout to control traffic, creating pedestrian access and cycle paths.

Those attending the exhibition were able to fill in response cards and give their views on the new plans. Tesco will now go through this feedback before submitting its application.

The initial plans were refused because of the impact on other local shops, including those at the Brighton Hill Retail Park, where there is an Asda.

But by reducing the size of the store by one third, Tesco is planning to create a supermarket for customers to do their weekly food shopping, removing extra provisions such as a pharmacy, post office and opticians. It is likely, however, to sell clothes.

The location of the store has been moved so it is concealed in the centre of the site, rather than facing on to The Harrow Way where it overlooked houses. Car parking spaces have also been reduced to 344.

Jack Pearson, Tesco’s corporate affairs manager, said: “We were delighted to see so many people at our exhibition and to have the opportunity to discuss our new plans with them.

“We got some great feedback and were pleased that so many people welcomed the revised plans. We’ll take some time to consider the feedback before any plans are submitted.”

If approved, the new store is expected to create 200 full and part-time jobs, with many more created during the construction.

It was in July that Tesco announced it intended to submit a revised application to build a smaller store. The Gazette asked our online readers whether they were in favour of the plans. Nearly 300 people responded – 46 per cent were in favour and 54 per cent were against the plans.