THIRTY-FOUR years ago a major project got under way to clear the site for Hereford's hotly anticipated new Safeway supermarket.

Councillors agreed in September 1987 that Morbaine Properties Ltd should be allowed to develop land on the north side of Commercial Road for the proposed 50,000 square feet Safeway superstore, which at the time projected an annual turnover of £8.6 million.

The plans were approved with the proviso that council backing was conditional on issues such as landscaping.

Hereford Times:

The supermarket plans, approved before the developers had come to an agreement with the site's landowners, would cover 2.44 hectares and incorporate the Aeroparts factory, Stonebow furnishing, and parts of the rear garden areas of 31 to 34 Commercial Road.

Hereford Times:

Ravenhill's was another business to be replaced by new development in the area.

The application also involved an alternative traffic route to Hereford Railway Station and the now-demolished businesses in Station Yard.

The Hereford Times reported that there would also be traffic signals at the junction with Commercial Road and the road would run through the existing car park for Rockfield DIY, which would, many years later, be demolished to make way for the new student accommodation beside the new city link road.

Rockfield DIY would then take over land for a new car park on Station Approach, the plans confirmed.

Hereford Times:

Planning officers told the council that the site was unsuitable for its then use as an industrial area and that building a supermarket there would provide balanced shopping across the city centre.

The supermarket was one of 50 bought up by Morrisons in 2004 due to Office of Fair Trading rules.