Next's plans to build a new Home and Garden superstore in Sheffield were thwarted this week when Sheffield City Council refused planning permission for the development.
British Land applied in April to build the Next outlet, consisting of a home store along with a garden centre, on an area of car park next to the Meadowhall shopping centre. British Land also wanted to include a car dealership and a Costa Coffee drive-through unit on the site.

However, council officers threw the controversial scheme out on Monday because of concerns that further development at Meadowhall would detract from shopping in the city centre.

One objector to the plan was Scottish Widows, which is making a major investment in the city's main shopping area with its plans for The Moor. Another was developer Hammerson, which is behind the Sevenstone development - already hit by years of delay because of the downturn in the economy.

Council officers decided that with both of the schemes at "critical stages" the city centre was in "a fragile state", and that further investment at Meadowhall could undermine its regeneration.

Next is reportedly considering going into the Sevenstone scheme, but such a unit would not give it the space it needs for a Home and Garden superstore selling DIY and garden products, along with ample adjacent car parking.

Next has so far opened two Home and Garden superstores, which it says "have comfortably beaten their targets", and is now intent on rolling the format out. It has identified around 17 sites where it wants to open the new stores.