TESCO have pulled out of plans to build a new supermarket on land next to Keighley Road in Silsden.

The store giant this week said it was no longer involved in the proposal by development company Silvermantle to build a 2,709 sq m store with car park and petrol station.

Silvermantle is continuing with its planning application and hopes Bradford Council will grant permission at a meeting of its planning panel on January 29.

Permission would last three years, allowing Silvermantle to market the site to several major supermarket chains as the UK’s economic situation improves.

The plan for a Tesco store in Silsden has attracted objections from residents – including a petition led by Wendy Neville and Anna Young -- claiming it could badly hit existing Silsden shops such as the Co-op minimarket.

Residents and councillors have also raised traffic concerns, and question the need for a second new supermarket following approval earlier this for a nearby Aldi store.

Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners (NLP), consultants acting for Silvermantle, recently submitted a revised plan addressing access and landscaping concerns raised by Bradford planners.

A spokesman for Tesco this week told the Keighley News that it had pulled out of the project after studying the progress of Silvermantle’s application through Bradford Council’s planning system.

He added: “We assess every application on its merits and what it can deliver for its customers.”

NLP spokesman Anthony Grealey confirmed the planning application would continue as planned without the involvement of Tesco.

He said: “The grant of planning permission would stand for the next three years.

“Tesco and all food store operators have put development on hold. Over the next three years we anticipate Tesco and other food store operators coming back into the market.

“It’s not uncommon for a supermarket operator to be confirmed following the granting of planning permission.”

Mr Grealey said that documentation had been sent to Bradford Council to address concerns raised by planning officers when the application was first submitted.

He added: “I was hoping to meet with Silsden Town Council in January to discuss their concerns.”

Town and district councillor Adrian Naylor said that as part of the Tesco plan, there would have been a £100,000 contribution toward the costs of building a much-needed footbridge across the Aire Valley trunk road between Silsden and Steeton, as well as the provision of four new sports pitches alongside the store.

He said: “I’m concerned that these could be put in jeopardy if there is no end user for the supermarket site.”