Supermarket giant Asda still wants to build two large shops at their Keighley site, despite the recession.

The company first announced their intention to build two “bulky goods” shops next to their Bradford Street store in 2009, but Bradford Council turned this down over fears the shops would draw trade away from the town centre.

Asda took this decision to appeal, and convinced a planning inspector to allow the stores in 2010.

But despite their fight to get the shops approved, they were never built, and now the planning permission is about to run out.

This week Asda announced it would try to renew this permission, and said the 30,000 square metres of space would create 35 jobs. Although no businesses have been linked to the site, the bulky goods classification usually refers to furniture.

They would be built on the former George Farrar yard, now derelict and overgrown, and more car parking would accompany the two shops.

Asda’s latest submission to the Council said: “The scheme will deliver the redevelopment of derelict land on the edge of the town centre and we consider that the developments site can form a valuable extension to the town centre.”

Explaining why the shops have not been built, the company says: “The site has been marketed since obtaining permission, but due to the downturn in the market, particularly the bulky goods market, operators for the units have not been forthcoming.”

As with their previous application, the company says the shops would not harm town centre trade.

But Steve Seymour, manager of the Airedale Centre and secretary of the Keighley Town Centre Association, said: “Any edge-of-town development is not good for the town centre.

“It could drive further business away from the town centre. It is something we could support maybe in ten years’ time, but I’d want this plan delayed until things have improved.”

Councillor Khadim Hussain, (Lab, Keighley Central), who is the new Lord Mayor of Bradford, said: “One of the main issues is that the last permission wasn’t implemented.

“I hope they actually build on it and not just sit on this indefinitely.”