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14
Oct
One year on: Have new Ripon and Harrogate Tescos been a success?
It's been almost a year now since Tesco opened superstores in Harrogate and Ripon.
The arrival of two Tescos in quick succession generated much excitement, but both supermarkets have attracted negative publicity.
One year on, we look at what impact Tesco has had. Use the comment section at the end to give us your views.
Ripon Superstore
The store, on Marshall Way, opened on November 20 last year – but the real controversy started at the announcement of the purchase.
The Tesco is located where Booths, an upmarket grocer, had been since 2009. Ripon locals were sad to see the “Waitrose of the North” go, as it “had the human touch” and offered something “a bit different” to other supermarkets.
Soon after it opened, the Ripon Tesco made headlines again for its ‘confusing’ parking policy.
Tesco offered two hours parking in the Marshall Way car park for anyone spending £5 in-store, and all vehicles were entitled to 30 minutes free parking regardless of whether or not they spent at the supermarket.
Manager Richard Butcher at the opening of the Ripon store.
However, parking was no longer free after 6pm – as had been the case previously – and vehicles had to leave after two hours, rather than three. The £5 in-store spend also didn’t apply to spending in the café.
Ripon City Council agreed to contact Tesco head office in March 2026, requesting a return to the previous policy.
Responding to Ripon City Council’s concerns, Tesco said it had improved the signage and ensured that its parking validation arrangements now recognise café purchases.
The new parking tariffs came into effect when the store opened on November 20 2025.
However, as of October 2026 it remained unwilling to look into the effect of charging after 6pm on Ripon’s nighttime economy, according to Mark Williamson, the deputy chief officer of Ripon City Council.
Ripon will soon welcome a new cinema on Fishergate, heightening concerns about post 6pm parking in Ripon.
The city council will review the parking situation post-cinema opening so it can better understand the further impact. But will its lobbying, or anyone else's, have much impact on a giant national retailer like Tesco?
Tesco superstore on Harrogate's Skipton Road
Harrogate Superstore
It took 22 years to happen, but Harrogate got a Tesco superstore on December 9.
The Harrogate saga dated back to 2002 when Tesco acquired the former gas works site at the junction of Skipton Road and Ripon Road, with planning permission granted in February 2023.
Work began in summer 2024, but the contractor went into liquidation, and revised plans were then resubmitted in October 2024.
Roadworks at the entrance to the Tesco store when under construction.
The real outcry though was twofold – people worried about the impact on small local business, as well as the impact of the long-term roadworks needed to create a news access road and mini-roundabout.
A 2023 council report said there was "real potential for the proposed Tesco store to have a significant adverse impact upon the Co-op store and the wider performance of the Jennyfield local centre". The report estimated the cumulative impact on the Co-op could be a 22.4% decline in trade.
There has also been criticism of the 24-hour fuel forecourt often being closed, especially the diesel pumps. However, the fuel is often the cheapest in the area.
Tesco donated £1,000 to Harrogate charity Resurrected Bites when it opened.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, told the Stray Ferret he has not been impressed by Tesco.
He said:
Unfortunately, the extended roadworks before the store opening were not the end of the situation for local residents. There have been lots of subsequent remedial works to the roads including a problem with flooding at Electric Avenue.
There are ongoing issues with the noise of HGVs due to the road layout within the Tesco site, light pollution because of the amount of trees which were removed during the construction and anti-social behaviour of boy racers in the car park.
I have been disappointed with the lack of meaningful progress made with the store on resolving these issues.
In response to these comments, Tesco highlighted the good it serves the community, including its grant scheme which awards up to £1,500 for local initiatives and schools.
A spokesperson said:
Both our Harrogate and Ripon superstores have received a positive welcome from shoppers, and we are proud to be part of the local communities in which we serve. We would like to thank our customers for the support they have shown since they opened.
The Stray Ferret requested comment from Co-op on the financial impact of the new Tesco on its Jennyfield branch but it has yet to reply.
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