A fast-expanding brewery has launched a bid to move to Ilkley’s historic brewery buildings, part of the site at the heart of a planning wrangle over the planned new Tesco supermarket.

The Ilkley Brewery, based in an industrial unit in the town, has been in talks with political leaders and planning chiefs over its plan to move into the disused Victorian building, off Railway Road.

If it gains backing for the scheme, including permission from the site’s owner, says the company, it would also create a visitor centre.

However, the scheme would have an impact on supermarket chain Tesco’s plans to build a new, larger store on the site, which also houses the former Spooner Industries factory.

Co-founder and director of Ilkley Brewery Chris Ives said: “We have a short lease on our current building in the industrial park off East Parade but we will need to move to allow for expansion and it seems to make sense to complete the circle started in 1873 when the brewery was first established by moving back to the original brewery building.”