New supermarket on the horizon for Ludlow

A full outline plan has been produced for the controversial 25,000sq ft (2,322sqm) store at Rocks Green, which if built would be the biggest supermarket in the town and would create 210 jobs.

There has been no announcement of what chain would take on the store, but developers say they have "no doubt" a major operator will be signed if planning consent is granted.

Campaigners, who fear the supermarket will threaten independent traders in the town centre, today described the project as "unrealistic". Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said it would put jobs, and "the special nature of Ludlow'" at risk.

The proposal for a supermarket off the A49 Ludlow bypass was first revealed by Blackfriars Developments in June.

The application says the store will be single storey, except for a storage area at the back, and have parking for 225 cars and 12 bikes, as well as a filling station with six petrol pumps.

It is planned to create a total of 210 jobs – the equivalent of 140 full time positions – and developers say it will add £3 million a year to Ludlow's economy.

In a planning statement, Sean McGrath of Indigo Planning, acting for the developers, says: "Interest has been expressed in the site by a number of the main supermarket operators, however, at this stage an operator is not named in this application. We have no doubt that an operator will be signed if consent is granted."

He adds: "There is no evidence that the proposed food store is likely to result in significant adverse impacts on Ludlow town centre."

But Tish Dockerty, speaking for campaign group Love Ludlow, said the scale of the supermarket was "far too large not only for the surrounding population but also for the Dun Cow site it has chosen".

Ms Dockerty, who is also secretary for Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, said: "The figures don't really stack up, this appears to be an unrealistic proposal which still doesn't have a specific supermarket backing it. It seems highly speculative and certainly disconcerting for all existing traders in the town.

"The Love Ludlow group is scrutinising the application and will be releasing a full analysis that they will submit to Shropshire planning department."

Mr Dunne said: "The results of my recent survey showed that two out of three Ludlow residents believe an out-of-town supermarket would put town centre traders at risk. Ludlow already has three supermarkets serving the town, two of which are believed to have sluggish sales compared to last year.

"So this speculative application for a large out of town supermarket is looking to meet a need that is not well demonstrated and would damage the town, putting jobs and the special nature of Ludlow's shopping experience at risk."