North Walsham could have a new out of town supermarket after members of North Norfolk District Council went against planning officers' recommendations today (Thursday).

Members of the council's development committee approved the application by Scott Properties to build a 39,000sq ft supermarket, with parking for 412 vehicles and a petrol station, on the former Marricks Wire Ropes site on Cromer Road.

It will go ahead if a Section 106 agreement is agreed by officers under their delegated powers and Paston College's Lawns site is not considered to be available for the development of a supermarket.

Planning officers recommended the Scott Properties' application was refused because it would have a 'significant, adverse impact on the viability of North Walsham town centre' and the applicant's package of suggestions to lessen the impact was 'wholly inadequate'.

Mair Stockdale, chairman of the North Walsham Chamber of Business, told committee members: 'The chamber has grave concerns about the Marricks site application. The impact on the town would so great it would force many businesses to cease trading.'

But Ivan Roberts, who lives in Cromer Road, said: 'The Marricks site has been derelict for a long time and is in a dangerous state. It is not a good image for the town.'

For a full story read tomorrow's EDP.