Tesco coming to Tabard Square

The company's application for an alcohol license for the former Tabard Square sales suite in Long Lane indicates that the store will be open daily 6am to 11pm, which points to a Tesco Express convenience store.

We asked Tesco to confirm details of the new store but no response was forthcoming.

New gates unveiled

The confirmation of Tesco's arrival at Tabard Square follows the recent unveiling of the new galvanised steel gates at the entrances to the square.

The gates, designed by artist Andy Webb, are open during the day to provide public access to the square and its forthcoming restaurant and other shops and are closed at night.

"I felt that the design of the buildings at Tabard Square coupled with the ancient semi-religious nature of the site were suggesting forms that were monolithic but at the same time hopefully ethereal," says Andy Webb.

"I used this as the inspiration when designing the gates, in particular the way the gates punch out of the ground feathering off at the top. This suggests reaching up to something or somewhere better."

More new supermarkets in the pipeline

Last week Southwark's planning committee granted planning permission for the final building in the More London development. The new PriceWaterhouseCoopers building will include a small supermarket at basement level with entrances on Tooley Street.

The store will be for "basket trade only" but will be larger than the nearby Marks & Spencer Simply Food store.

And there will soon be a fourth M&S Simply Food outlet in SE1: the BP garage in New Kent Road is to have its former Safeway convenience store converted into an M&S Simply Food franchise.

• Last week Tesco exhibited its latest plans to redevelop its Old Kent Road site to include an expanded store and 488 new homes. Full report and images coming soon.