PLANS for a massive supermarket development dubbed Tesco Town look scuppered.

PLANS for a massive supermarket development dubbed Tesco Town look scuppered.

The retail giant wants to build a store and 900 flats in Glasgow's West End. provided access to the new store and flats But it now looks likely the firm will be forced to ditch its plans for the flats because a huge chunk of land it needs for access to the plot is to be sold to another bidder.

The planned superstore could still go ahead if the company gets the necessary planning permission for the site at the bottom of Byres Road in Partick.

But the overall development would be much smaller - and would no longer be anything like the scale of the original planned Tesco Town.

Access to the student flats was intended to be from a new roundabout to be built on an area of land - currently owned by the city council - at Beith Street.

Tesco and Glasgow Harbour, which is behind the massive housing and leisure development on the banks of the Clyde, were both interested in buying the four acre site.

Council bosses agreed to invite the companies to make a competitive bid for the parcel of land based on its value as a site for housing.

Tomorrow the executive committee will be told Glasgow Harbour submitted the higher offer of £4.1million and it should be sold the land.

If councillors agree to the recommendation, it will mean Tesco will not be able to get access to the flats it wants to build.

Tesco corporate affairs manager Jennifer Duncan said: "We have not yet been formally notified by Glasgow City Council of their decision to sell land at Beith Street, Partick, but remain hopeful that our bid will be successful.

"However, if our offer is not accepted then our intention is to proceed with our application for a stand alone supermarket at Partick.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further while we await the Scottish Government Reporter's decision on our proposed planning applications."

The flats and supermarket plan resulted in a flood of complaints from local people - including councillor for the area Aileen Colleran - who were worried about the environmental impact on the area.

They were also concerned about the impact on nearby businesses in Partick.

Sandra White, Glasgow SNP MSP, said: "My understanding is that Glasgow Harbour has got the site in Beith Street which has to be rubber stamped by the council.

"The piece of land is where the roundabout, which would give access to the Tesco store and student accommodation, would be built meaning Tesco wouldn't get access to its own development.

"If the Tesco plan fails, which I hope it does, then I would think most of the people in Partick would think it wonderful news.

"I understand Glasgow Harbour wants a super- market on the current land it owns near the harbour development site and the majority of people in Partick would be happy to have it there."

But some campaigners were still not happy today.

Samer Bagaeen, chairman of Stop Tesco Owning Partick, said although the news of the land sale went some way to preventing a possible Tesco Town a stand alone store was still not the answer.

He said: "This almost complicates the issue if it leaves us with the prospect of a stand alone store. That is something we remain opposed to and it goes against the city plan, which states the area should be of mixed use."