A proposal to create a new Morrisons supermarket on the edge of Ipswich is set to be thrown out by Ipswich Council today.

The supermarket giant wants to take over about two thirds of the B and Q store on the Sandlings retail park on the opposite side of Ransomes Road to the John Lewis and Waitrose store.

However planning officials at the borough have recommended members of the planning and development committee to reject the proposal – warning that it could jeopardise the chances of another store being built to regenerate an historic area of the town.

They warn that the development of the a new Morrisons on the site would damage the prospects of a new supermarket being built next to the former Tolly Cobbold brewery at Cliff Quay.

That already has planning permission but no operator has yet agreed to come in there. The supermarket is vital to the regeneration of the site and the restoration of the brewery, which is a listed building.

The report to the meeting says: “This Authority would argue that the former Brewery site is on the eastern side of town and is much more sustainable being within a large area of southeastern suburbs with no large foodstores.”

It points out that as well as being across the road from Waitrose, the proposed new Morrisons would only be a short distance from Sainsbury’s at Warren Heath and the Ravenswood local centre which has a Lidl and Co-op.

Realistically it is too far for people to walk to the store at the Sandlings, while a new supermarket on the Brewery site would be within walking distance to a significant number of people living near the Waterfront.

Today’s meeting comes at the end of months of negotiation between the two retailers and officials from the borough over the future of the huge retail superstore.