An ambitious scheme has been drawn up by supermarket giant Asda for its Corporation Street complex in Colne, which councillors have been told would be the first of its kind in the UK.

Incorporating a TK Maxx store, Pure Gym and a vehicle centre, 56 new jobs have been pledged for the development on land which housed the old Boundary Mill premises.

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But critics fear the move could see the East Lancashire location, also home to nearby Argos, Next and DFS stores, turned into a rival for Colne town centre.

Coun Paul White, enterprise cabinet member for Pendle, said: “I have attended a presentation by Asda’s planners and they said that this is the first of its kind in the UK.

“I don’t want them trialling something like this, which has the potential to decimate our town centres in Pendle, which have been bucking the national trend. It’s like creating a new town centre.

“This is a major US corporation and they are not bothered about town centres like Colne, just their own profits.”

The councillor also believes that the retailer has been ‘sneaky’ in submitting several planning applications for the overall project, the first of which, for minor alterations to the main store, will be considered by the town’s area committee tonight.

David Clegg, a Liberal Democrat councillor representing Colne’s Vivary Bridge ward, has also spoken of his fears after visiting a similar shopping village concept in Canada, which had decimated trade in neighbouring towns.

But planning agent for Asda Sian Butt said: “The combined program of investment by Asda will create 56 jobs and make more efficient use of redundant and underutilised parts of Asda’s brownfield site and car park.”

She added there was nothing unusual about submitting several applications for such a large development.

“Whilst the program of investment has been split into component applications, each to be determined on its own merits, there is clearly a collective benefit of the combined proposals in terms of job creation and overall economic investment,” she said.

The likes of a florist, shoe repair and key cutting service, photo shop and laundry have been suggested for the four retail pods as part of the proposals, which would see around 50 parking spaces lost.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “I think we can be pleased that the old Boundary Mill site is being brought back into use and that a TK Maxx is coming to Colne.

“But while I want to see large retailers coming to Colne, I am concerned at the impact on the town centre, especially if Asda is looking at creating a number of smaller, independent shops, with free parking.”

Graham Wharton, chairman of Colne Town Centre Forum, said: “The trouble with supermarkets is that they want to do everything. But at the end of the day it is up to people to support their town centres.”

“We are doing better than other towns. We have our own loyalty scheme and this wouldn’t be welcome.”