A SCHEME for a massive shops and office complex at the Colne end of the M65 is likely to be refused because of fears it would hit business in town centre stores.

Pendle businessman Graham White's firm Greenfield Park wants to build non-food stores, offices and a restaurant on land off Vivary Way, Colne. He claims that 400 jobs would be created.

An alternative plan to build a Morrisons supermarket and offices on the same land will go to a planning inquiry in September.

The plans show an L-shaped block of 14 smaller shops and four larger units with 625 car parking spaces, a restaurant, a fast food outlet and a three-storey office building. A study by retail experts on behalf of Greenfield Park argued the complex would have minimal effect on nearby Nelson and Colne and was more likely to draw shoppers to the area away from larger town centres such as Burnley and Blackburn.

But a report by senior Pendle Council planning officer Janet Holland said the scheme would hit council moves to improve Nelson town centre and attract more shoppers there.

She has recommended the council's Colne area committee to refuse outline planning permission for the complex when it meets on Thursday on the grounds that it is contrary to planning policy and would seriously undermine the vitality and viability of Nelson town centre and to a lesser extent Colne.

Residents living near the site have sent 25 letters to the council objecting to the scheme.

They outlined more than 55 reasons why they think it should not go ahead including fears over worsening traffic congestion, pollution and noise and the effect it would have on the local environment.

One letter of support was sent from Prestons BMW garage, which is near to the site.

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