A ROW has broken out between developers and Bradford Council over plans to build a supermarket on an old industrial site in Bingley.

Lidl has applied to the local authority to open a 2,345 sq m store with 140 parking spaces on the auction mart site in Keighley Road.

But CDP, the company which jointly submitted plans for the store with Lidl last October, claims the council’s planning department has refused to meet with it to discuss technical matters, despite agreeing to do so last month.

However, the council claims no new information was submitted with the store’s application and it has been recommended for refusal at a planning meeting later this month.

James Marshall, from CDP, said: “We feel that the council has neglected their duty to engage with us on technical matters.

“We have tried to answer all queries and amend the plans accordingly but feel let down with the attitude from the council, who has not been responsive and constructive.

“These plans will create up to 40 jobs at all levels and regenerate this site, which has been largely vacant since the market moved out in 1995.

“We feel this is something that the council should be getting behind and engaging fully with us to resolve any outstanding technical issues, and not rush the application through to a planning committee prematurely.

“Since we announced the plans were submitted, we have been very encouraged with the level of support from the town and there are over twice as many supportive comments on the application, as those with concerns.”

The proposal has been backed by Howard Martin, president of Bingley Chamber of Trade, who said it may help keep money in the town and provide jobs.

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Bradford Council claims the developers asked it to defer a decision on the planning application last month as it needed more time to set out its case.

A local authority spokesman said: “The original planning application was submitted in October last year and we kept them [the applicant] up to date throughout the process concerning issues relating to the location and design of the development.

“The developers asked the council to defer a decision on the planning application in April as they needed more time to set out their case.

“No new information was submitted which meant previous concerns were not addressed.

“It was decided to place the application on the May committee with the recommendation that planning permission be refused.”