A leading businessman today hit out at plans for a £15 million superstore at the edge of the city and said Bradford needed it "like a hole in the head."

Peter Marks, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Co-operative Ltd, said it would object to a planning application by Miller Northern Developments and Magellan Properties Ltd for the store.

Yorkshire Co-operative joins shopping giant Morrisons which has lodged an objection to a planning application for the food retail scheme on land at Canal Road/Valley Road and Hamm Strasse.

Morrisons says it would hit other district shopping centres, including Girlington, where it has spent millions of pounds refurbishing its Victoria shopping centre.

But the developers say the store would have a £32 million turnover and bring £2 million a year in spin-offs to the city centre, which is within walking distance.

The developers propose to demolish Furniture City, Maplin Electronics, Carpet World, CD Bramall Nissan, Bensons Bed Centre, and Save Petrol Filling Station.

The companies would relocate to other sites if the superstore went ahead. Mr Marks said: "We must have more food supermarkets per head than anywhere else in the world.

"There is no way it is going to bring more shopping to the city centre - it's going to bring it to Canal Road.

"We need good quality non-food shops in the city centre itself."

President of Bradford Chamber of Trade, Jim Griffin, said he was personally against the application, although the chamber had not discussed it.

He said: "There is a Tesco nearby and anything it sold would be duplicated in the city centre. I can't see it bringing an extra £2 million into the city centre."

John Smith, who has been a butcher in Rawson Market for 37 years, said: "There is more than enough food sold in the city centre.

"I think the planning officers should think twice about this."

Officers will recommend Bradford area planning panel to back developers when they seek planning approval at a meeting on Thursday.

The officers admit other district shopping centres would be hit but say it will boost the city centre.

The developers say the city centre is suffering from the lack of food shopping and the proximity of the scheme will bring a big spin-off.

Magellan is part of a consortium planning a separate £200 million city centre development scheme by demolishing and rebuilding vast areas of the city.

Keith Paley, managing director of Maplin, said: "We have not heard about this scheme but will deal with it when they get in touch."

Colin Jeffreys, proprietor of Furniture City, said he did not want to comment at this stage. A spokesman for Bensons said neither they nor Carpet World knew about it but Bensons did not want to leave Bradford.

Bill Gillespie, sales manager of CD Bramall Nissan, said the company would be relocating from its premises to a £5 million development in Manchester Road at the end of the year.