IPSWICH: Simply No! That was the reaction from the borough today over proposals bs retail giant Marks & Spencer to build a convenience food store to the north of the town.

The Evening Star has learned that the retail giant wanted to build a 13,000-square foot Simply Food store on part of the Colchester Road fire station site.

It would take up about 30 per cent of the site, the rest would be developed for houses – about 50 homes would be built as part of the development.

However, Ipswich council’s planning committee has decided that the land should be used exclusively for housing.

A source close to Marks & Spencer said the company was frustrated by the council’s position, and that it had not given up hope of building on or very near the site.

He said: “We are not talking about a superstore here. We are talking about a small neighbourhood food store that would employ a total of about 50 people in different shifts during the day.

“It would take up less than a third of the site and we feel there is a need for a neighbourhood food store there. The nearest alternatives are the small Co-op on the junction of Sidegate Lane West or the larger Co-op on Selkirk Road – but they are both a long walk away from people who would live on that site or at Shetland Close nearby.”

Councillors are split on the future of the site.

Conservative Judy Terry said local residents had said strongly that they did not want anything other than residential development on the site.

“Ultimately we have to be governed by what local residents want – and they have been clear that they don’t want any retail there which could threaten the viability of their local Co-op and could cause disturbance and traffic nuisence,” she said.

But Labour’s Alasdair Ross, who also represents Rushmere, said that while no one wanted a large retail development on the site many local residents would welcome a convenience store.

He said: “A food store on that site could be useful if it doesn’t generate too much extra traffic.”

Marks & Spencer has told planning officials at the borough that a new store on the fire station site would not affect its main store at Westgate Street in the town – they have said it would be a completely different scale of operation.

Paul Clement from Ipswich Central said they were aware of the Marks & Spencer proposals and would not have major concerns about its impact on the town centre so long as there was an assurance from the company that its main store would be unaffected by the proposal.

The planning guidence only applies to the fire station site and a former builder’s yard next to it. There have been suggestions that developers could also try to build on the site of the Royal George pub – that is not covered by the planning guidance.

However, its owners have said it is not up for sale.