THE race is on between two rival developers to build a multi-million pound supermarket in the heart of Fleetwood.

Manchester-based City Park Realty is putting in a planning application for a major superstore, petrol station, shops and car park on the Cop Lane site edged by Lord Street, Dock Street, Mount Street and Station Road.

But Dransfield Properties, of Sheffield, last month won outline planning permission for the same facilities on the same site.

Given that City Park also wins planning permission, the prize will go to whichever can reach agreement with a supermarket operator first - it is likely to be one of the big chains - Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Safeway, Somerfield or Morrisons.

Both companies are also trying to negotiate land purchases with more than 20 different owners of properties - many of them disused - on the 4.3-acre site.

The two plans differ in style and approach - City Park would retain historic frontages on Dock Street whereas Dransfield proposes a wholescale redevelopment. City Park also proposes a pedestrian link between the new Fleetwood Freeport and the old shopping area of Lord Street.

City Park director Keith Stacey said: "We believe our scheme opens up the whole of the main shopping street across to the Freeport and gives a more attractive approach to the town.

"People would be encouraged to walk across from one to the other to see what's there. What matters at the end of the day is that Fleetwood get the store it deserves and the area is redeveloped."

Dransfield Properties held a public exhibition of its plans in April, winning 97 per cent support from those who saw it. A spokeswoman said they were confident their scheme would be under way by the end of the year.

They hoped to name a supermarket operator very shortly, had reached agreements with most of the landowners and would shortly be seeking tenders for construction.

Fleetwood councillor Richard Anyon said: "If this rivalry brings about an even better scheme, then that's all to the good. But my fear is that it could end with a breakdown in negotiations and we'd end up with nothing, which would be disastrous."

The site's redevelopment is a major part of Wyre Council's Fleetwood regeneration scheme.

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