Kier and owners of Castlepoint shopping centre latest to face claims over 'defective' retail developments

Asda has launched a £3.6m claim against Kier and the owners of Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth, for losses incurred when a crumbling car park was forced to close.

The supermarket is the latest in a line of retailers including Marks & Spencers and Boots, to seek compensation from the contractor and developer.

In a writ filed at the High Court, Asda claims the car park, which was built by Kier, is “so seriously structurally defective and in such serious disrepair that it cannot be repaired but will have to be demolished and rebuilt”.

Asda is claiming for damages arising from the closures of the car park in 2005 and 2006 and its future demolition and rebuilding.

In a statement, Asda said: “We commenced these proceedings to protect our position in view of the fact that the problems with the car park first appeared in 2003 and that it is over four years since our store was forced to close.”

Both Kier and Castlepoint declined to comment.