An artist's impression of the new Telford development

Asda bosses today said they were determined to press on with plans to build a store on the site of Telford & Wrekin Council’s civic offices despite a late hold-up to the controversial scheme.

Objections from four groups working on behalf of Telford Shopping Centre chiefs Hark Apollo were submitted just days before the council’s plans board was due to meet to debate the application.

Hark, which still hopes to keep Asda in the town centre, says the multi-million pound scheme does not meet local or national planning policies and would harm the centre and cost jobs.

The application was deferred last night so Asda could respond to them and it is now expected to be heard in the New Year.

But Asda property communications manager Chris Marlow said Hark’s intervention had only strengthened the retailer’s desire to quit the shopping centre.

He said: “We are extremely disappointed that a decision on the application has been deferred at such a late stage.

“It is frustrating that an objection, submitted just two working days before the committee, but which appears to have been prepared in early November, was the main driver in delaying a decision on significant investment in Telford.

“Asda is committed to Telford, to the hundreds of colleagues we employ at our existing store and to lowering the cost of living for local people. The only suitable and viable way for Asda to fulfil these commitments in the long-term is to develop a new store on the civic offices site.”

A planning application was submitted by Hark Apollo last week for a £30 million timber-clad building on the Red Oak car park in the town centre to house a superstore and smaller retail outlets.

Hark wants Asda to take over that site to become the flagship store and anchor of the new development.

Hark spokesman David Swaden said: “Our objections, which were made within the proper timescale, outlined concerns which we have consistently raised in numerous representations that are on the public record.

“Namely, that the civic offices application goes against national and local planning policy and would be highly damaging to the existing town centre.”

By Wayne Beese