A meeting to decide the three-way battle to build a new supermarket in Shipley has been taking place today in the town’s library.

Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals committee called the special meeting to choose between proposals by developers GMI, Morrisons, and Shipley shopfitting firm, Cardinal’s.

After hearing today’s presentations, the committee will visit each site tomorrow before making a decision.
 

Presenting its proposal, which involves the construction of a new supermarket on the company’s existing Airedale Mills site, Tim Considine, Joint Managing Director of Cardinals, asked the committee to consider the amount of jobs that would be retained and created in Shipley by the scheme.

He added that the firm’s planning application was the “only opportunity to generate enough capital for relocation and growth.”

GMI, which wants to build a supermarket, cafe, petrol station and new rail maintenance depot on the Otley Road site currently occupied by scrap metal recycling firm, Crossley Evans, said its proposal would “transform Shipley and have a positive impact on the town and its visitors.”

Managing Director, Chris Gilman, added that the GMI scheme, which has been recommended for approval by a Bradford Council report, represented the only edge of town centre site that could compete with Shipley’s ASDA supermarket.

Morrisons, which is looking to develop land at Crag Road, Shipley, was due to outline its development plans later this afternoon.

A demonstration by the Hall Royd Residents Association, a group against any of the proposed supermarket developments, took place outside the library as council members and presenters arrived this morning.