Superstore bid for edge of city centre

The major store would be on the site of Britannia Mills, close to Bradford Interchange. The developers, Asda St James, have submitted an outline planning application to Bradford Council, which is expected to be considered in the New Year.

The application can be seen in the Jacobs Well council offices. People can put in representations objecting to or supporting it.

But first planning officers have told the developers they must carry out a full study on the likely effects on city centre shopping and traffic levels.

The Asda St James bid comes close on the heals of a planning application by shopping giant Tesco to build a multi-million pound superstore in Canal Road. The Tesco store would mean the demolition of almost all of the Peel retail park - and four other businesses would lose their premises.

The Asda St James store would go on mainly vacant land in Nelson Street but it would mean the demolition of Britannia Mills, which is still partly used by businesses.

Today the Asda St James application sparked controversy in the City centre as traders prepared for yet another shopping giant to move onto the outskirts. President of Bradford Chamber of Trade Eric Hudson said he feared that big, free car parks would drive people away from the city centre where more parking charges will be introduced in the spring.

Stall holders at Rawson market, which is struggling to stay afloat, also feared it would be a body blow.

But Jeff Frankel, chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group, said: "It would be a useful development on the edge of Bradford city centre. It is better for them to be on the edge rather than within the town. It will draw people to the city centre."

The planning application is for an 85,000 square foot store with petrol filling stations near the new multi-million-pound Abbey National headquarters.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.