COUNCIL chiefs have criticised some of Britain’s biggest retailers for flouting planning laws.

They complained that Tesco and other companies, including pub chain Greene King, had carried out alterations to their buildings without applying for consent.

New Forest councillors were debating an application relating to the former Croft pub in Hythe, which has been converted into a Tesco Express store.

A retrospective proposal to install three air conditioning units and a condenser was discussed at the district council’s planning committee.

Councillor Maureen Holding said: “It’s been done without permission.

“I don’t like the message that Tesco seems to keep sending out – namely that it’s omnipotent and can just go ahead and do things.

“If everyone did it the whole planning system would be a mess.”

Councillor Michael Thierry added: “This is not the first large company that has come before this committee and asked it to rubberstamp something that’s already been done.

“Before they let the first customer through the door they should have every single planning element in place.”

But Tesco was not the only company that came under fire from the committee.

Councillor Chris Lagdon cited a previous case, referring to work carried out at The Testwood pub in Salisbury Road, Totton, without planning permission.

He said: “It’s not just Tesco – Greene King rode roughshod over this committee, but there’s not much we can do about it under the present planning laws.”

The Tesco Express application was approved, subject to conditions.

Tesco said it had “taken on board” the comments made at the meeting, adding that it never had any wish to “railroad” the committee.