A SUPERMARKET firm's plans for a major expansion of its Northallerton superstore are on the verge of being shelved.

Councillors are expected to throw out Tesco's bid to create a 44,000 sq ft supermarket in East Road when they meet this week.

Planning chiefs at Hambleton District Council condemned the proposals as out of character for a traditional market town, after hearing concerns from conservationists.

The authority's planning committee is due to make a decision on the controversial development on Thursday, but officers have recommended that the plans should be rejected.

The refusal would come as a major setback to Tesco, which was granted permission in principle for the new store last year.

Early work on the site has already begun, but councillors would have to take the unusual step of going against officers' advice for it to be completed.

The officer dealing with the application, Diane Baines, said the development would fail to fit in with the area's architectural and historic features and would adversely affect the conservation area.

"The development fails to reflect the use of traditional materials, brick, slate and pantiles, and is a stark contrast to the dark and muted colours found in this part of the conservation area," she said.

English Heritage has also voiced its fears about the way in which the store would be integrated into an historic market town setting.

A spokesman said: "While we have generally been supportive of the design approach being adopted by Tesco - a contemporary as opposed to traditional design - we have a number of concerns regarding the details of the submitted scheme.

"We have consistently considered that a single footprint structure of 44,000 sq ft is an exceptionally large mass to integrate into an historic Georgian market town centre location."

Tesco's bid also outlines plans for a new 271-space car park and service area to be created.

The application is due to be considered at the council's Civic Centre, at Stone Cross, Northallerton, on Thursday.