Nantwich Town councillors and traders are objecting to plans submitted for the former Beam Street Medical Centre.
Keyworker Homes (Cheshire) wants to demolish it and build a retail unit, with Marks and Spencer rumoured to be interested.
However, on plans submitted to Cheshire East Council, the developer has identified the site as “the former Kiltearn Medical Centre.”
Nantwich Town Council says this is ”misleading” as the old Kiltearn Centre was on Hospital Street, another site due for development.
In its objection, the council says: “The applicant’s confusion about the location of the site they are developing and the mis-description means the application has been wrongly identified and the public might easily not realise where the application is or what it relates to.
“It would be wrong to consider an application which has not given accurate information.”
Councillors also criticised the proposed design, branding it a “featureless, off-the-shelf Shed – a shop unit like hundreds of similar small supermarkets across the country.”
Traders in the town have also objected, saying it could harm local trade.
Edward Chatwin, boss of local bakery firm Chatwins, said: “In recent years local traders have had to battle with ever-expanding supermarkets and a tough economic climate. I passionately believe the council should be doing all it can to maintain a vibrant town centre.
“From experiences in other local towns where we have seen a large multiple retailer open in or near the town centre then our shops, and others in the town centre have struggled. Not in one instance has it lead to an increase in footfall in the town.
“It is not in the interest of the town traders and with a glut of supermarkets around the town I believe the local community is well served in terms of large supermarkets.
“Although there is little the council can do to help local traders in these tough times, it can at least not harm them by not allowing the development of Beam Street Medical centre for a large national retailer.
“I have spoken to a number of local traders and found that they to have similar concerns as my own.”
A decision is due shortly.
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