PLANS to build a DIY supercentre on the edge of a market town would have a detrimental effect on the town centre, according to council officers.
B&Q wants to build a 45,000sq ft store, 13,000sq ft garden centre and a 9,000sq ft bulk store, plus a car park with 197 spaces on the site of the Sundial Hotel, in Darlington Road, Northallerton.
The company applied for planning permission in January last year, but Hambleton District Council said it could not make a decision until it had seen details of two other developments planned for nearby Willowbeck Road.
B&Q launched an appeal against the non-determination of the application and the matter will now go before a public inquiry in June.
Council officers say the development would be too far from the town centre and yesterday councillors voted to back this view, which will be presented at the public inquiry.
The council's head of development control, Maurice Cann said: "The concern here really is the protection of the High Street and the valuable nature of the High Street in terms of keeping the facilities it provides."
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