SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's yesterday pulled out of plans to build a multi-million pound supermarket in Otley.

Britain's second largest supermarket chain planned to build a 20,000 square foot community store on the site largely occupied by the fire station and Park Lane College, off Bondgate, creating around 150 new jobs after submitting its application back in August 1999.

And a second application by developers Litton Properties to redevelop the old tannery site off Gay Lane into 32 apartments has also been withdrawn.

Head of acquisitions at Sainsbury's Kevin Macmillan said that the company was frustrated because they had been unable to get planning

permission.

He said: "Because of this length of time the scheme has had to undergo a thorough re-evaluation in light of changing demands at J Sainsbury's. This review concluded that the scheme is no longer viable.

"We are naturally disappointed that this decision has had to be made in light of the length of time taken in the planning process."

Litton Properties director Paul Harriman added: "We have put forward a number of different

solutions to meet the objectives of the council, but continuing delays and the subsequent increased cost of the development have made the scheme unviable."

Sainsbury's have also said that other Sainsbury's stores in North Leeds have been redeveloped and are trading successfully, reducing the need for a store in Otley.

The company is also investing in its other stores and had also undergone restructuring over the past year.

Councillor Phil Coyne (Lab, Otley and Wharfedale) said that the city council had a number of concerns about the quality of materials to be used in the building work and had insisted that the roof be slate.

"The planning department is not to blame. I was kept informed of the planning process and the department acted quickly, but when their concerns were voiced Sainsbury's would take months to reply. Sainsbury's proposals were unacceptable.

"The truth is that the site is expensive to develop and Sainsbury's no longer wants to build smaller stores, and the site cannot cope with a bigger one. It is a shift in policy on their behalf.

"It is extremely disappointing that the scheme has fallen through because it would have been an important tool for regeneration. It shows what can be done to redevelop the tannery with the right package."

Coun Coyne suggested that a hotel might be good for the site.

Coun Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale) added that it was bad for the fire

service because the offer to build a new fire station had also fallen through.

"It is bad news because the site is a mess because the developers have led people up the garden path for a long time, although I do have sympathies because the planning process has been overlong."

New President of Otley Chamber of Trade Jonathan Rutter said that he was surprised by the news and that the subject would be discussed at a members' meeting on Tuesday night.

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