Several big names have deserted Newbury in recent months, in favour of allowing Tesco to create their third supermarket in the town.

Comet, Harveys, and Sleepmaster have all vacated their premises in the London Road and Tesco are in the process of combining all of the units to create a supermarket one third of the size of their massive Tesco Extra store at Pinchington Lane.

The new store will open in June or July and is expected to provide 150 jobs locally. There were rumours that the store would be similar to an Argos Store selling from their catalogue Tesco Direct. This has recently been denied by Tesco who have confirmed that the store will be selling mainly food items.

Along with the Tesco Express in Thatcham and the Tesco Metro in Northbrook Street, there will soon be four Tesco supermarkets within a four mile radius of Newbury town centre.

This is good news isn't it?  Real competition at last!  Now, if you don't like Tesco at Greenham, as you hinted at in last paragraph - customers are just a short car ride away from several other Tesco stores.  They'll really have to buck their ideas up to keep their customers happy. Fantastic - market forces at work at last.  

I dont think these retailers have vacated in favour of Tescos it is probably more to do with the rents and rates charged for the premises.
I am sure that this will be a popular shopping venue for Thatcham people and those who do not want to get trapped in the traffic jams entering Newbury.  

Of course, you know who the landlord is for the London Rd Industrial estate don't you? West Berkshire Council.

Quoted from Meddler

Of course, you know who the landlord is for the London Rd Industrial estate don't you? West Berkshire Council.

Taken from Property Week 23rd October 2009:

"Aberdeen Property Investors has let a 33,165 sq ft store at London Road Retail Park in Newbury to Tesco on a 25-year lease"

Quoted from Administrator

Taken from Property Week 23rd October 2009:

"Aberdeen Property Investors has let a 33,165 sq ft store at London Road Retail Park in Newbury to Tesco on a 25-year lease"

But does this make them landlords for the industrial estate?