Residents set up a campaign " St Albans Stop Tesco Group" to oppose Tesco's proposals to build a new store in St Albans. Tesco's site had already attracted controversy as it had formed part of its land bank of as yet undeveloped land, and residents believed the land could be put to better uses.
On 11th February 2008 Tesco finally submitted a planning application. On 2nd May 2008 representatives St Albans Stop Tesco and the St Albans Civil Society handed in a petition of 5,827 signatures to St Albans District Council.
On 1st July 2008 the application was unanimously refused by St Albans City and District Council’s Planning Referrals Committee. The Chair of Committee commented that "..a superstore in that location would have been unsuitable and the impact it would have had on the city centre of 4000 car movements a day would have had a detrimental effect on the city and environment".