Major plans to raze buildings at a scrapyard and replace them with a superstore, cafe, petrol station and car parks have been submitted to Bradford Council – despite the occupiers of the site saying they aren’t for shifting.

The boss of Crossley Evans Ltd, which operates from the Otley Road site in Shipley, said the £20 million retail scheme could cost him his business and his 50 staff their jobs, and jeopardise smaller companies which rely on the waste management and recycling firm’s business.

Matthew Evans said his company would be objecting to the scheme in the strongest terms and was looking into legal ways to hold on to its lease for the site, which includes a break clause by which the owners may terminate Crossley Evans’ occupation with six months’ notice.

“It’s not a position we are enjoying by any stretch, but I owe it to people that are here,” he said. “Our simple position is that we’ve no desire or intention of moving from the site.”

He was told about proposals for the land, which has been used for recycling for more than 100 years, in November.

The application has been submitted by Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP) on behalf of GMI Developments Limited (GMI), which has been working with landowners Network Rail and DB Schenker Rail (UK).

It includes a 12- pump petrol station, 7,435 sq m store, standalone cafe/restaurant, customer car parking and a new car park for Shipley railway station, plus pedestrian and cycle links.

A retail statement accompanying the plans says another supermarket is much-needed in the town. It said: “Asda currently provides the only anchor foodstore, and the Council has identified a qualitative and quantitative need for new convenience floorspace since 2008. Provision of a new large-scale foodstore will increase choice and competition within the town whilst ensuring that retail needs are met in full.”

But Mr Evans disagrees. “I can’t really see how it would support the local economy anymore than a lot of other things would do,” he said.

GMI’s previous developments have included turning Broadacre House in the city centre into an award-winning 118-room hotel for Premier Inn and the £10m development of The Waterfront building in Saltaire.

It has suggested alternative sites for Crossley Evans which it believes would benefit the firm by providing the security of tenure which it has previously lacked, offering more space for expansion and removing the firm’s liability for remediating the Otley Road site.

Mr Evans said the suggestions were unsuitable and 30 to 40 miles away.

People can comment on the plans at planning4bradford.com.