A decision in the three-way battle to build a supermarket in Shipley is due to be made by a Bradford Council committee today.

After visits to the three sites earmarked for development, the council’s Regulatory and Appeals committee will conclude a two-day planning meeting by choosing between proposals from developers GMI, Morrisons, and Shipley shopfitting firm Cardinals.

All applicants gave presentations to the committee at Shipley Library yesterday, which also heard contributions from councillors and the public.

Presenting its proposal, which involves the construction of a new supermarket on the company’s Airedale Mills site, Tim Considine, joint managing director of Cardinals, asked the committee to consider the 500 jobs that would be retained and created in Shipley by the scheme.

The council has recommended the development be refused, but Mr Considine said securing the long-term future of a Shipley business should be more important.

GMI, which wants to build a supermarket, cafe, petrol station and rail maintenance depot on the Otley Road site occupied by scrap metal recycling firm, Crossley Evans Ltd, 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 ‘Shipley Link’ scheme, recommended for approval by a Council report, represented the only site on the edge of the town centre that could compete with Shipley’s Asda supermarket.

Speaking in objection to the scheme, Matthew Evans, Manager of Crossley Evans, said relocating the recycling company would cost “millions” and that alternative sites, in particular those with an operational railhead, were not available locally.

The committee heard from Councillor Martin Love (Green Party, Shipley) who said he had never received so many representations on a planning application.

The third proposal, by Morrisons with Skipton Properties, would see a supermarket, petrol station, business units and 100 houses on Shipley’s Crag Road. Bradford Council has recommended the scheme be refused, based on issues such as a failure of the sequential test, a negative impact on the Saltaire World Heritage Site, unacceptable design issues and a failure to provide affordable housing.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Lab, Windhill and Wrose) said the scheme would be a massive benefit to people in her ward.