A date was set yesterday for a legal battle which could lead to the demolition of a supermarket due to open in the North in October. Millions have already been spent on the Tesco supermarket at Knocknagoney on the main Belfast-Bangor road. However, objectors have been granted leave for a judicial review of planning permission, and in the Belfast High Court yesterday Mr Justice Kerr fixed the hearing for September 10th. The case has been brought by promoters of the £65 million Harbour Exchange project on the opposite side of the road, which was put on hold after the High Court quashed planning permission.
The court decision to quash planning permission was based on the failure of civil servants to furnish the Minister at the Department of the Environment with all the requisite information. The project's promoters are now seeking a ruling that a similar error occurred in approving the Tesco store.