Supermarket giant Waitrose has quashed rumours it is poised to open a new store in Perth.
Speculation mounted the retailer could move into the city after dormant plans for a multi-million-pound supermarket were revived by developers.
The shop bid for the old Perth Mart site was first mooted by Sainsbury’s six years ago, with the promise of creating hundreds of jobs.
But the retail chain pulled the plug on the project after a legal spat with rival Tesco.
Now developers have applied to Perth and Kinross Council to renew planning permission before it expires later this year.
FRP Advisory, which has been appointed administrators for original project leaders, Perth City West LLP, want to keep consent alive while they try and attract new businesses to the site.
Sainsbury’s has already said it will not be involved in the revived scheme.
Yesterday Waitrose said it also won’t be setting up shop at the Crieff Road site anytime soon. A spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that Waitrose isn’t currently exploring opportunities in Perth.”
The site, near Dobbies, has been empty since the old mart, run by United Auctions, closed down seven years ago when its operations moved to Stirling.
Sainsbury’s said its store would have marked a £41 million investment in the city and created more than 400 jobs.
But the chain withdrew after Tesco successfully appealed against a council decision to allow Sainsbury’s to begin work before an upgrade of the A9/A85 junction.
A consultation on the revived plans will begin next month and a new planning application with be lodged later in the year.