SUPERSTORE giants Asda and Morrisons battled it out this week in a supermarket war over land.

The much sought after land is in the Cop Lane area of Fleetwood, and the new store is expected to be built on a high profile Lord Street site.

An unexpected twist to events occurred as building plans for both stores were unofficially approved.

A Wyre Borough Council spokesperson commented : "The sub-committee has given the chief executive the power to approve them both, but they are both subject to conditions."

Dransfield Properties of Sheffield announced earlier this year their intentions to build a superstore on the land, but it was only last month that they revealed they were working in partnership with William Morrison Superstores.

Unexpectedly another developer came forward in the shape of a Manchester based company named Citypark Reality, and they also submitted a planning application for the major national food-retailer, Asda. The ambitious project is within the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Programme, for the regeneration of Fleetwood and it was envisaged from the start that the project would involve a new retail and leisure development.

So the plot now thickens as both appear to have the needed consent.

Managing Director of Dransfield Properties, Mark Dransfield emerged from the meeting in victorious spirit as he said: "I'm very pleased with the decision. We are to start work in January and hope to have the site finished, which is to include a Morrisons store, later next year.

"In architectural terms it is a far superior scheme that has been passed today than our original plans. I believe it will improve Fleetwood tremedously and create more than 400 new jobs."

Richard Anyon, ward councillor for Fleetwood area and chairman of the Regeneration Project commented: "I am pleased to see such a desire to develop parts of Fleetwood that have been underdeveloped in the past and will be pleased to see the fruition of these plans.

"I hope that when the dust settles Fleetwood gets the attention it deserves."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.