Grocery giant Tesco’s plans to build its largest store in Ireland have been scuppered as its proposals have been refused for a second time.

Environment minister Edwin Poots has accepted a recommendation by the Planning Appeals Commission to refuse the proposals.

Tesco had planned to build a 130,000 sq ft store at the Bridgewater Park complex close to Banbridge. The site would have given Tesco easier access to the lucrative cross-border trade.

But locals objected, saying that the store would have damaged Banbridge town centre, according to the BBC. Tesco’s plans were initially turned down in 2008.

Poots said that the new Tesco store would have led to “a significant loss of trade” in the town centre.

Tesco said it could not comment as it had not yet been officially notified.

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