Hundreds of Oswestry jobs could be at risk if plans to turn a factory site into a supermarket are unsuccessful.

Bosses at Richard Burbidge, Whittington Road, claim the outcome of a planning application for a Tesco superstore, a restaurant, Reel cinema and other facilities may affect their business’s future.

The joinery firm, which employs about 300 people, says if given the green light from planning officials it will be able to relocate its Oswestry business.

But the company, which has 200 workers in Oswestry, says it has “no plan B” if the application is not successful.

Richard Vernon, development consultant, said: “It is an application that is not just about a superstore – it is the relocation of the Burbidge business. There is uncertainty about its next steps.”

Steve Underhill, chief executive, said: “We have hundreds of people working for us and we have promised we would advise them what is happening.

Confidentiality

The relocation plans would see the head office and warehouses move to another area of the town. But the specific site details are being kept under wraps because of confidentiality.

Mr Underhill said “We are looking to relocate the whole business onto a site in Oswestry but only if we have a successful application. If not, we don’t have a plan B.”

Burbidge officials say the application will create 350 local jobs, safeguard 200 jobs and improve retail choice and leisure facilities for the town. There has been concern about two listed buildings on the Burbidge site. The company says there are plans to restore and improve one of them although one building could be removed.

But Mr Vernon said that as the supermarket scheme is only at outline planning, details were not yet available.

This application for the Burbidge site is one of four submitted bids for a supermarket.

Other bids are for the Central Car Park, Smithfield Livestock Market in Shrewsbury Road, and the JT Hughes and Guttercrest site in Victoria Road.

Richard Burbidge’s application and the others will be discussed by Shropshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee on the afternoon of July 29.

By Chrissy Symmons