Supermarket chains line up for Market Drayton site

Bosses behind a planning application for a store off Greenfields Lane in Market Drayton said they have three companies that could move on to the site.

But they are staying tight-lipped about which companies are involved.

A pre-planning application has been submitted and a full application is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Andrew Price, from Danbank Developments, the company behind the plans, said: "We are trying to provide the best site in the town whoever that operator might be.

"That is what we are concentrating on at the moment. There are three potential operators that would come to the town, one includes Sainsbury's if they weren't successful on their current site. The operator is secondary at the moment."

The proposals revealed by Danbank Developments last month are in direct competition with plans submitted by Sainsbury's for a store on the Vicon Works Industrial Estate, off the A53.

Those plans have been called in to be decided by the North Shropshire planning committee, despite about 70 per cent of people who took part in consultation giving it their support.

"In my opinion our site is head and shoulders above the other site," Mr Price added.

"To have it at committee is the best way. Planners are allowing time to look at all the proposals and we are pleased about that."

Mr Price said his ideal situation would be that both sets of plans were called in by the committee.

He said Danbank Developments had got their application ready and a pre-application meeting will now be held on June 6 – with the plans submitted "straight away" if nothing needs to change.

The scheme includes a petrol station and a new road layout as well as links to improved sports facilities and 200 homes.

In contrast, the Sainsbury's application is for a 30,200sq ft superstore with a restaurant, bakery, recycling centre and 250-space car park. It would create 200 jobs.