Supermarket plans remain on the shelf
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Plans for another supermarket in Ashburton remain shelved after more than 10 years.
Foodstuffs purchased the property at 407 West St/State Highway 1 in October 2012 and planned to develop the site into a Pak’nSave.
When the Ashburton District Council consulted on plan change 4 in 2020, which aimed to strengthen the role of the CBD as the primary commercial, retail, recreation, cultural and entertainment centre for the district, Foodstuffs submitted, citing it would impact its plans to establish the supermarket outside the CBD boundary.
Plan change 4 became operative in July 2021, with the West St site zoned business C which ‘provides for limited commercial activities, service and community activities, as well as a range of light industrial activities’.
A provision was included to allow for the supermarket on the specific site.
Three years later there is still no indication when the plans will progress.
A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the company “don’t have any updates to share about the site at this stage”.
The closest alternative Pak’nSave stores are Hornby (Christchurch), and Timaru, with a new store under construction in Rolleston.
The West St site was the former historic Canterbury Flour Mill that was the scene of a major fire in February 2011.
The building, built in 1872, was gutted by the fire.
As well as the two Woolworths and a New World the town has some smaller grocery stores such as SuperValue in Tinwald, and Four Square Netherby, while The Warehouse has recently added produce to its supermarket offerings.
While Foodstuff’s plans for Pak’nSave in Ashburton remain shelved, Savemore has announced it is set to open a new grocery clearance store in the town in May.
The store will be in the Ashburton Central retail centre off Tancred St.
Savemore is New Zealand-owned and operated and offers ‘clearance groceries at bargain prices’.
It opened two stores in Christchurch in the last six months, with Ashburton being its third location.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
-
72.6% We work hard, we deserve a break!
-
17.7% Hmm, maybe?
-
9.7% Yes!
A riddle to start the festive season 🌲🎁🌟
I'm a fruit. If you take away my first letter, I'm a crime. If you take away my first two letters, I'm an animal. If you take away my first and last letter, I'm a form of music. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
-
53% Yes
-
47% No
Loading…
