Residents in Bovingdon raising questions over an "eyesore" development site in Chesham Road have been informed by owners Tesco they are currently looking for a development partner.

The site at the junction of Chesham Road and Bovingdon High Street was formerly used as a motor showroom, but is now unoccupied and in disrepair.

As of January 21 2010 Tesco Stores Ltd was granted planning permission for a mixed use redevelopment on the site.

The planning permission consent was later renewed, and now expires in July 2016, but according to Church Lane resident Gary Cullum, the site has remained run down for some years.

Questions about the site's future were raised when Mr Cullum heard Tesco might be selling the site.

He said: "It will be lovely to have the site developed one way or another to take away the current eyesore on entering the High Street - it's only been boarded up for 18 months or so to 'smarten up' the site.

"Regardless of whether another grocery store is needed - we already have a co-op and a Costcutter serving the village - villagers will be delighted that we may finally see some progress at the boarded up site."

According to chartered surveyors Brasier Freeth, Tesco’s agent, the supermarket giant have decided to enter into a pre-let of the retail element of the site.

Neil Saunders, partner at Brasier Freeth, said: "We have been instructed to facilitate a 'sale and leaseback' for Tesco, whereby we sell the freehold site to a developer, whom then builds out the scheme in accordance with the approved planning consent.

"As part of the sale, the developer enters into an Agreement for Tesco to take an occupational lease back on the retail element, in order for Tesco trade an Express format convenience store from the site."

A Tesco Spokesperson said: "We are delighted to have planning permission for a new store in Bovingdon and are grateful for the support local people have given our plans.

"We're looking for a development partner to help us build the scheme and provide a retail unit for us to occupy.

"We're not yet in a position to confirm an opening date but we'll be sure to keep the local community updated."