SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is still unable to say when work will start on its new store in Burnley, despite being granted planning permission over a year ago and promising to start building as soon as possible.

Burnley Borough Council gave the go ahead for the store in Centenary Way in July 2001.

At the time, Tesco said it was keen for the work to start as soon as possible, but since the site was cleared earlier this year not one brick has been laid.

A spokesman for Tesco said: "We are going to start work very shortly. We are unable to say exactly when, but essentially when planning permission is given you have to allow for a gap between that and the work starting.

"We will be putting a statement out in the near future about time and dates."

Alterations to the traffic flow system in Centenary Way, close to the former British Telecom and Jewson's site, have been made and pedestrian crossings installed.

But since that work was completed the site has stood empty and silent.

A council spokesman said: "We have granted planning permission for the development, but we are not under any obligation to tell them to when to start work."

The 6,000 sq ft store and petrol filling station expects a £34million turnover and will create 300 full time and part time jobs.

The proposal includes a 400-space car park in Centenary Way.

During the consultation process for the new store councillors, who seemed set to reject Tesco's major plan on the grounds that the town simply could not support yet another major food outlet, changed direction after hearing expert advice on the impact of the new stores.