Tesco is to set up a store in a “prominent and important” site in the centre of Oxford and hopes to sell alcohol from 6am.

The Express outlet will move into the former home of Solus Lighting at the southern end of St Aldate’s.

It will be the supermarket chain’s first city centre outlet and will join existing ones in East Oxford, Botley, Summertown and Cowley.

However, businesses and shoppers voiced concern about plans for a licence to sell alcohol between 6am and 11pm every day.

A spokesman said there was no proposed opening date for the St Aldate’s store, although a plan of its layout had been submitted to Oxford City council. Public consultation is due to end on Wednesday with the council holding a licensing hearing in late May.

Richard Gibbs, general manager of nearby Café Loco, said they had “slight concerns” about the application for a 6am alcohol licence because of the nearby shelter for the homeless.

He added: “You don’t need to sell alcohol for 17 hours a day.

“If people are coming down from Carfax towards it they will reach us first so it might be a help rather than a hindrance.

“It’s very easy to say it’s a big corporate giant so it must be bad, but it’s swings and roundabouts.

“We have been here for five years and we’re not going to go anywhere.”

Tessa Caldecott, of neighbouring St Philip’s Books, said: “My first reaction was to think of the parking and the traffic, as people don’t really walk down here unless they’re going to the shops.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an ideal location for Tesco, but I think it will bring more customers down here and that has to be a good thing.

“It will be quite convenient for the workers around here to get food.”

Lesley Dewhurst, of Oxford Homeless Pathways, formerly Oxford Night Shelter, in nearby Luther Street, understood why people would be worried about the licence plan.

She said: “I think it is always concerning when alcohol is readily available that early in the day, but in terms of its proximity to here, our view is the people who are reliant on alcohol who stay here will find it somewhere or other. It’s not that far to go to Sainsbury’s or the grocery shops in Abingdon Road.”

Tony Joyce, of Oxford Civic Society, said: “These food outlets have proved very useful in suburban areas where people can access them either by foot or on cycle.

“One queries the number of residents in the area who would be able to avail themselves of the facilities.

“It’s a very prominent and important site and I’m concerned about whether people are going to try to access it by car.”

Tesco spokesman David Niberg said: “We take our responsibility for the sale of alcohol very seriously and we always listen to the comments of our neighbours and local communities.”