A SUPERMARKET company has won planning permission to build two large retail stores in Northallerton.

The planning application by Wm Morrison Supermarkets for the two 20,000sq ft non-food stores at Willowbeck Road was backed by planning officers at Hambleton District Council.

The developers say that the two units will enhance Northallerton as a shopping centre.

Although no users have yet been identified, they will sell electrical and household goods, furniture and floor coverings, automotive products and bicycles.

They will not be permitted to sell food, DIY and hardware, clothing, perfume and toiletries, books, computer software, stationery or music and videos.

The development will be on a 4.21 acre site made up of separate parcels of land, all owned by Wm Morrison.

It includes the sites of a former carpet warehouse and snooker club that have been demolished, a former DIY store and rough open ground.

As well as the two stores, the development will also have 150 parking spaces for customers and 37 staff car parking spaces. In a retail study, Morrison's said the new stores would provide the town with improved shopping for non-food durable goods.

It said: "This will assist in the retention of trade within Northallerton and will reduce car journeys to other surrounding high-order centres offering high-quality retail warehouse facilities such as Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough.

"While the occupiers of the scheme are yet to be determined, we have identified considerable retailer demand for floorspace in Northallerton."

Hambleton council's head of development control, Maurice Cann, has said because the development is for bulky goods shops that would generate regular but infrequent shopping trips it is suitable for a location outside the town centre.

He said: "Defined as an edge-of-centre site, the development will enhance the position of Northallerton in the retailing hierarchy.

"As a consequence, there will be a reduction in trips to adjoining shopping centres."

The town council also backed the development.