The new Tesco in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, has a combined heat and power plant which runs on sustainably sourced natural fuel, which contributes to the store using 48 per cent less fuel than one built in 2006.

Its construction throughout has been built in order to minimise energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, according to corporate affairs executive director Lucy Neville-Rolfe.

She said: “The new blueprint, which will provide a foundation for future stores being built in the UK, demonstrates our commitment to tackling climate change.

It will also considerably reduce store fuel costs going forward.” The store has a timber frame, lights that adapt to the amount of natural light and a natural ventilation system.

Its staff can also keep track of the energy and water being used throughout the building using a metering system. However, environmental groups have questioned how green a supermarket like Tesco can actually be.

Former director of Friends of the Earth has said that among the hidden consequences of supermarkets were “the traffic they generate and the food miles they clock up, thus helping to accelerate climate change”.