Tesco planning new supermarket that will take over former cafe in Harlow

The Harvey Centre in Harlow
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Tesco has revealed plans to open a new store in Harlow. The 200-square-metre shop will be located in the Harvey Centre, taking over the former Papa's Cappuccino location. Tesco has made an application to Harlow Council for permission to sell alcohol between 6am and midnight.

A Tesco Express already operates on significantly larger premises just yards away from the Harvey Centre. That used to be a Tesco Metro - a shop sized between larger Tesco superstores and smaller Tesco Express shops, averaging 1,000 square metres.

However, the brand has been retired due to low footfall in preference for Tesco Express stores. If Tesco vacates the old Metro site it would leave one of the largest units of the council-owned Harvey Centre empty.

Read more: 'Fiesty' Essex kestrel survives after being hit by car

Read more: The 'beautiful' Essex city residents love - but outsiders think is 'boring'

Harlow Council bought the Harvey Centre for £21 million in December 2022 in a deal that allowed the authority to take more control over the wider regeneration of Harlow town centre. The purchase had been one of the largest acquisitions made by the council and transformed the authority into one of the biggest town centre landowners.

The deal was completed this week after the shopping centre was put up for sale six months earlier at a guide price of £24.5 million. The council at the time said footfall in the centre continues to increase back towards pre-pandemic levels.

Councillor Dan Swords, deputy leader of the council, said the purchase represented a once in the lifetime opportunity for the council, a moment "which shows how serious the council is about regenerating the town centre".

Any representations for the application for the new Tesco store licensed must be made in writing by November 14.