Supermarket plan under fire from small retailers

Developers Holbeck Land and the GMI Group have bought a car park in Malton, North Yorkshire, in a controversial move which will see the site turned into a supermarket – which some people claim will have a massive impact on the town's independent traders.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Nov 2010, 14:05 BST

Updated 25th Nov 2010, 14:05 BST

GMI Holbeck Land plan to develop Wentworth Street Car Park, which it bought from Ryedale District Council, into a new food store, two retail units, office space and a new petrol filling station.

The proposed scheme, designed by architects Panter Hudspith, will also provide car parking for shoppers and visitors.

Ryedale Council say the car park is never more than half-full and everyone will benefit. But Malton and Norton Business in Action maintain that building a new supermarket would have an impact on independent retailers.

Ian Barraclough, of GMI Holbeck Land, said: "We are confident that our development scheme will help stem the leakage of retail spend from Malton Town Centre through the introduction of a new store high on quality and attracting a significant increase in shoppers and visitors."

Public consultation and planning is due to take place in the first half of 2011.

North Yorkshire Malton