A preliminary settlement to progress a Countdown supermarket development in Bureta is being questioned by one of the party's representatives.

A Progressive Enterprises spokesperson confirmed to SunLive an agreement has been reached between Countdown, residents and Tauranga City Council to move forward with the 4620m2 supermarket development at the Bureta Trust site, but says nothing has been finalised.

Bureta Trust Bar owner Kevin Fraser continues to hold hope he will be included in the Bureta Countdown development. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

'We can confirm that everything has been settled between the parties and now the court will make its final decision. We aren't able to say anything more at this stage or confirm details as a consent order hasn't been confirmed,” says a Progressive spokesperson.

But Stuart Gooch, a representative for a Vale Street resident affected by the development, questions where the information is coming from as he is still being kept in the dark.

'There has been no official announcement of anything. There has been no notification of it and we haven't received any email, phone call or document,” says Stuart.

Progressive Enterprises Limited's resource consent application to build the $20million supermarket was rejected last year due to noncomplying land use activity, and traffic issues that will be created by the proposed supermarket.

Progressive appealed to the Environment Court with mediation hearings in May, at which time the issues were negotiated and a consent order issued, which meant the appeal did not need to go to a full hearing of the court.

Stuart says to hear about the agreement through the media is surprising but something he fully expected.

'Nothing is surprising when you are dealing with companies.”

When questioned on what grounds the settlement has been agreed upon, the Progressive spokesperson says no comment can be made because the matter is still before the Environment Court.

'We don't want to make it sound like it's a done deal even though everything has been settled. From our point of view we are not expecting it will take much longer.”

Bureta Trust Bar owner Kevin Fraser is also in the dark on the situation remains in a holding pattern despite apparent word of the settlement. In May, Kevin was given notice by Progressive Enterprises to be out of his premises by November.

'I think they have been holding like that for three months now. There has been no more communication,” says Kevin.

Until the final order is issued, Kevin believes his leaseholder rights are stronger than Progressive's ownership because the early termination of his lease had to be for the purpose of redeveloping the land.

He also continues to hold the faintest of hopes the new shops fronting Bureta Road will include a bar and gaming lounge as he has first right of refusal.

'It was always sort of implied that the tenants would be looked out for. It's only in the notice period that they have confirmed there was nothing suitable.

'It's not over until the fat lady sings - so to speak.”