PLANS to build a new Aldi supermarket in the centre of Keighley have been recommended for refusal, with planning officers saying the store would be "generic" and fail to improve the town's character.

The discount supermarket chain announced plans to build a new store on a derelict former mill site on East Parade late last year.

It would replace the town's current Aldi on Gresley Road, which would be shut once the purpose built store was open.

The site was previously earmarked for the long delayed Aire Valley Shopping Centre and has been vacant and boarded up for years.

The planning application for the 1,315 sq.m Aldi store, another 1,858 sq.m retail unit and a drive thru coffee shop will go before members of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee next Thursday.

But planning officers will urge the committee to refuse the plans, claiming the building will not fit in with the appearance of the town centre, and that the development will not provide "direct and convenient pedestrian routes" into the centre.

A report going to the committee says: "This is a large site in a sustainable location next to the town centre and the train station. It represents the opportunity to create a lasting, positive legacy for Keighley.

"It is noted that the site has laid vacant for a number of years and there is no doubt a strong wish locally for it to be put back into use. However, it shouldn’t be any development at any cost.

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"Keighley has a very strong and distinct character but it has been weakened over the years by out of town type development within and on the edge of the town centre.

"This proposal would represent more of the same, it would erode the town centre still further instead of enhancing it and supporting it, and it wouldn’t help to restore Keighley as a great place which people choose to live, work, shop, spend time and visit.

"The existing form of development on East Parade is defined by a strong, continuous line of buildings which have entrances, shop displays and windows facing the street, the buildings animate the edge of this route as you would expect in a town centre.

"The proposed design doesn’t respond to this.

"There is no evidence that the design has been informed by an understanding of the site/area, that it responds to existing positive patterns, which contribute to local character."

Referring to how the development would relate to the surrounding area, the report adds: "There is no commentary or identification of any positive qualities which the design could respond to, or negative things which it could improve. It’s almost as if it starts with a blank piece of paper and the result is a quite generic retail park type development.

"Overall this feels like a place which is designed around getting people into and out of it by car and, in the case of the coffee shop, driving through it. It’s not a place that would encourage people to dwell and spend time in public areas, that facilitates linked trips with other destinations in the town centre."

Aldi have hit back at some of the claims in the report in a letter to the Council. It says: "Aldi is very disappointed with the approach officers are taking in respect to these proposals for the comprehensive development of a longstanding vacant , cleared brownfield site allocated for town centre uses."

It says the site has been amended from its original design to include more pedestrian facilities, and to improve the layout and appearance of the site.

They add: "Aldi disagree with the idea that the proposals are akin to 'development at any cost.' The scheme represents the comprehensive development of a scheme which is commercially attractive and feasible, with the layout being a deliberate response to the extensive soft marketing that has taken place for a prolonged period.

"Aldi do not deny the existing frontage along East Parade is defined by a strong, continuous line of buildings, however the attractiveness and effectiveness of this in creating an attractive place is subjective."

The company refers to the fact that the previous retail park scheme, which was first granted planning permission in 2012, has stalled, saying: "This scheme has not been developed as it is not viable and the expected end users do not have any interest in locating in Keighley."

The committee will decide on the application when it meets online at 10am next Thursday.