CONSTRUCTION of a huge new Asda store in Chorley town centre is set to start early next year with the final step in the planning process now completed.

The Government will not ‘call in’ the decision to approve a 44,000sq ft supermarket set to regenerate the southern end of Market Street and employ up to 400 people.

The 24-hour store will be built on the site that is currently occupied by QS Fashions at the corner of Bolton Street, Pall Mall and Market Street.

There have been several objectors to the plans including Chorley Traders’ Alliance, Booth’s supermarket and developers RREEF Ltd, who have plans to extend the Market Walk shopping centre.

A leading critic of the scheme is Michael Bromley, owner of the business Tunit, which employs 12 staff is located next to the proposed site.

He said the Asda plans left him facing 'ruin and loss of jobs'.

“Under Asda plans, we will be effectively hemmed in on a piece of devalued, forgotten land,” he added.

The proposals include more than 440 car park spaces and a petrol station.

The store will be bigger than the one in Blackburn but slightly smaller than the site in Clayton Green.

Coun Peter Goldsworthy, leader of Chorley Council, said: “This will be a real boost for the town creating hundreds of jobs and opportunities to regenerate the town centre, particularly along Market Street.

“I wrote to the secretary of state to get him to decide whether to ‘call in’ this application and I’m delighted it’s been decided before Christmas and Asda can now get on with developing the new store.”

Philip Bartram, Asda’s Property communications manager, said work was likely to start on site early next year and the store would open in 2012.