A public inquiry into Tesco’s bid to build a new supermarket in Ilkley is set to last eight days.

The appeal hearing will begin on Wednesday, July 7, in a venue yet to be decided and is not expected to finish until July 20.

The length of an inquiry is decided by Government Planning Inspectors following submissions from the appellant.

The chairman of Keighley Area Planning Committee, Coun Chris Greaves, said council officers were “staggered” about the time requested by the supermarket giant.

Tesco’s plans to build a new supermarket on the former Spooner Industries site were thrown out by Bradford Council last August on the grounds that the new store was contrary to planning policy.