COUNCIL bosses will fight a controversial application for a foodstore in Newport when it goes before the planning inspectorate in May, it was revealed today.
A bid by Indigo Planning for a 33,000sq ft supermarket in Audley Avenue has been taken out of the council’s hands because the authority took too long to make a decision.
An independent planning inspector will have the final say at an appeal in Telford, due to begin on May 15.
But the council’s plans board will still discuss the application at its meeting on Wednesday.
In its recommendation, the council says there were better sites for the store and that it would have a detrimental effect on Newport town centre.
There is also another application for a larger Sainsbury’s supermarket in Station Road.
Aoife Conacur, from Indigo, said the Audley Avenue site was a better alternative.
She said: “Officers have confirmed that they consider that the site the council owns at Station Road is a better site for a foodstore than Audley Avenue, despite it being a recreational facility for local residents and being in the countryside.
“Station Road is currently promoted for a foodstore by the council and St Modwen.
“Our brownfield site at Audley Avenue is a much more suitable for a foodstore.”