Value supermarket Safeway is taking over one of the most prestigious shopping spots in Sussex.

Ikea and Harvey Nichols had been mooted as possible upmarket tenants for the Quadrant site in North Street, Brighton, which overlooks the Clock Tower.

Councillors and shoppers have expressed surprise that Safeway, owned by discount chain Morrisons, has been selected for the prime location.

The outlet will be less than half a mile from another Safeway in St James's Street and the same distance from a giant new Sainsbury's, being built on land behind Brighton station.

Paul Elgood, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "This is the prime site in the city centre. We should have made sure we made it as attractive as possible."

Another councillor said: "Safeway isn't the name I was expecting to see dominate that site. Don't quote me by name but I thought we were going to get some sort of Harvey Nichols."

Safeway had signed with developer Wildmoor to take a large chunk of the retail site before being bought earlier this year for £3 billion by Morrisons.

The Bradford-based chain, whose mission is to deliver "The Very Best For Less", is looking at the future of all of its newly-acquired outlets.

Morrisons spokesman Paul Keenan said: "Safeway has signed up for the Quadrant but we are reviewing it as part of a general estates review."

Tory councillor Geoffrey Theobald said a supermarket would be good for people living in the area but he would have preferred smaller, individual shops on the site at the heart of the city's main retail area.

Wildmoor declined to comment on the Safeway tender or other issues at the controversial site.

No work has been done for three weeks after the building contractor went into liquidation.

Wildmoor, based in Chelsea, London, is understood to be close to hiring a firm to complete the project.

The Quadrant project was approved by councillors late last year after months of wrangling. It had been thrown into disarray when councillors rejected the initial designs as too ugly.

Construction had already begun and the developer threatened to appeal to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

The council's planning committee finally approved amended designs for the complex.

Thursday September 09, 2004