Controversial plans for new shops on the edge of Cockermouth look set to be approved next week.

Property developer Opus North wants to build a food store and non-food retail unit with 150 car parking spaces behind the Lakes Home Centre on Low Road.

Allerdale council’s development panel will discuss the application on Tuesday and officers have recommended approval, despite several objections.

Seventeen people and the town’s civic trust have objected to the plans and Cockermouth Town Council has recommended the plans be refused due to inadequate flood risk assessment.

Sarah Hewitson, of Station Street, said: “This is just another nail in the coffin for independent traders in the supposed gem town of Cockermouth.

“We will soon see empty shop premises throughout the Main Street boarded up and ugly and this proposed development will only serve to speed this process up.”

The town’s civic trust said: “The application represents an unsustainable proposal with real danger of negative impact on the viability of the town centre.

“The trust does not object to development on this site but it should be of a type compatible with a sustainable town.

“Uses such as light industrial or other non retail businesses are appropriate.”

Andrew Huckson, of Parklands Drive, said: “The appeal of Cockermouth lies in its Georgian architecture and the retail offer presented by a range of small, independent stores which would suffer competition from any national chain stores.

“Cockermouth does not need and want this proposed development which would be damaging in the longer term.”

Gillian Telford, of Low Road Close, said: “My husband and I are rather surprised Opus Land North have even submitted an application given the strength of opposition against this proposal demonstrated by local people during the initial consultation period and the feedback submitted at the time of the exhibition held at St Joseph’s Hall.

“Inappropriate, uncontrolled development has had severe adverse effects in other market towns.

“Some towns in other parts of the country have been irrevocably changed.

“We must ensure this does not happen in Cockermouth.”

Officers have assessed the impact on the town centre.

A report to councillors says: “This review concludes that the proposal would not significantly impact on the vitality and viability of Cockermouth town centre.

“The Environment Agency and Cumbria County Council, the local lead flood authority, have raised no objection in relation to flood risk, subject to conditions.”

On the issue of loss of site for employment use, officers point out the site has been vacant for a long time.

Opus is proposing two retail units, with food in the smaller one, which is about half the size of the town’s Sainsbury’s supermarket.

The bigger unit, which is about two thirds of the size of Sainsbury’s, is expected to be for general trading, clothing and home.

Allerdale council’s development panel will meet on Tuesday at Allerdale House at 1pm. Councillors will visit the Low Road site in the morning .