Developers behind one of two supermarket plans for Shipley say their proposals offer the greatest benefit to the town.

Cardinal shop fitters wants its Airedale Mills base, in Ives Street, to be turned into a superstore so it can move to more modern premises. Its application is supported by many of its staff, who have written to Bradford Council.

Following the Cardinal proposal, which was submitted to the Council by Commercial Development Projects (CDP) in January, plans for a competing scheme were put forward by GMI Developments. It submitted an application for a large food store on the site of Crossley Evans scrap yard off Otley Road – but Crossley Evans boss Matthew Evans does not want to move his business.

The Council instructed planning consultants White Young Green to look at both applications and it concluded the Otley Road site was the “sequentially preferable location”.

James Marshall, from CDP, said: “The report supports the need for an additional superstore and we feel our plans offer the most benefits to Shipley when looking at the wider economic context.

“Compared to other schemes that are being proposed for the town, ours will have a significant positive impact on the local economy as it will provide certainty for Cardinal and allow Crossley Evans to remain in Shipley “Both of these businesses are well established, highly respected and well regarded local firms. Through supporting these businesses hundreds of jobs will be safeguarded in the process.

“On top of this the new supermarket will create many new full and part-time jobs for the local community.”