PLANS for a new supermarket in Darlington could be rejected next week, despite support for the scheme.

Discount firm Lidl has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to build the store in Yarm Road.

The company has been in talks with the council, in an attempt to find a scheme that would satisfy officials.

The council wants the store to complement the shops in the area, which include Aldi and Iceland, as well as a parade of small shops.

The plan includes 113 parking spaces, 48 of which would be at the front of the store, with the remainder at the side and behind the other shops.

At least 464 letters of support have been sent to the council's planning department, many from local residents, as well as neighbouring shop owners.

However, planning officers have recommended that the proposals be refused when the planning committee meets on Wednesday.

Officers believe that the design of the scheme is seriously deficient and that planning consent should not be granted. Officers say the size of the supermarket is not considered a problem, as it compares with other medium-sized shops serving local communities, such as Somerfield, in Cockerton, or the Mowden Co-op.

But in a report to councillors, planning officers say the design of the supermarket would make it an "alien intervention" in the area.

It says parking behind the existing parade would suffer from a lack of security.

The council's urban design officer said: "I am unsure how the proposed building would complement and enhance the existing streetscape, as its main contribution to this would be to provide a conspicuous car park, full of cars."

The materials to be used in the design were also said to be inappropriate.

The report says: "It is considered that the food store of the scale proposed would, on balance, be consistent with the objective of protecting and enhancing the retail vitality of Yarm Road and other shopping centres.

"But the design is seriously deficient in significant respects, conflicting with recognised local plan policies and national planning policy and guidance relating to retail developments."