A controversial scheme to build a giant Asda superstore on the site of the current Telford & Wrekin Council civic offices will go before planners tonight.

The supermarket giant shunned a last-ditch bid by Telford Shopping Centre owner Hark Apollo to keep it in the centre by turning down the opportunity to move into a purpose-built £30 million timber-clad building.

It would have gone up on the Red Oak Car Park near the current store.

The multi-million pound move out of the centre will go ahead if planning permission is granted by Telford & Wrekin Council’s plans board today.

The application would see a 44,000 sq ft new store built along with a petrol filling station and 500-space car park.

Hark claims Asda’s decision to move will harm the shopping centre and cost jobs.

The developer submitted a planning application of its own for the new store in Red Oak this week and has still not given up hope of persuading Asda to change its mind.

But Asda claims it has the backing of shoppers.

The store giant says “close to 100 per cent” supported and understood the need for the move in a survey at the existing store over the weekend.

It follows a telephone survey of more than 1,000 people which Asda claims shows similar support for its scheme.

Telford & Wrekin Council planning officers are recommending approval for the plans for the civic offices site – and Asda property communications manager Chris Marlow said he hoped the plans board would now follow suit.

He said: “We have been very clear as to why we need to move to the civic office site, namely around Hark Apollo’s proposals including major disruption to the primary Asda customers’ car park over at least a 15-month period.

“This would heavily compromise our service to customers and such significant disruption over that length of time is simply not workable.

“Speaking to local shoppers first-hand over the two days last week has only further encouraged us, and reinforced our firm belief that the new store proposal on the civic office site is right for Asda, right for our customers and right for Telford.”

The plans board meets from 6pm at the civic offices tonight.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting.