A GIANT Tesco store is to be built in Blackburn, under plans unveiled today.

The proposal will see the current store in Hill Street demolished and replaced by a two-storey, eco-friendly structure, with a floor space of 10,200 sq metres - twice the existing amount.

Council bosses said the scheme would trigger the multi-million pound regeneration of the surrounding area.

A new main road is planned between Accrington Road and the Red Lion roundabout, running parallel to Burnley Road, which would become a quieter residential street.

Councillors plan to create a new business park along the route of road, potentially creating hundreds of jobs.

Mike Lee, who takes over as council leader this month, heralded the proposals as “great news” for the town, saying it would transform a rundown area.

And in a bid to protect town centre traders, he revealed the Tesco would only be allowed to open 60 per cent of the new site initially.

The firm would have to obtain permission to use the rest of the store - which would be one of the company’s largest.

But the town’s Chamber of Trade fears for independent shops, believing it is “inevitable” the whole of the store will quickly be brought into use.

The group’s president David Cottam said he feared the council would not be able to hold out.

He said: “They will definitely open the rest of it. Even if the planning committee turns it down, they will go down to London to appeal to the planning inspectorate.

“Tesco knows this game. They wouldn’t agree to build a new store and then not use a third of it. It’s such a good site next to the motorway.

“This is bad news for independent shops. Tesco is a one stop shop and small traders can’t compete with its buying power”.

To make way for the expansion, the retail giant has bought land from Blackburn with Darwen Council for £5.5million - opening the door to a regeneration masterplan of the area between Accrington Road and the Whitebirk Roundabout.

The new road will feature a roundabout for the new entrance to Tesco.

It will run through the former Iqbal Funeral Parlour, Furthergate, which the council recently purchased for £500,000.

Council bosses said work could begin on the new road, which includes a link across the canal to the listed Imperial Mill building as soon as next year, with a planning application for the new Tesco expected in the coming months.

Coun Lee, the current town hall resources chief, said he was confident a complex planning arrangement would prevent Tesco from expanding fully without the council’s permission.

Coun Lee said the town could not support the maximum sized store at present, and Tesco would have to make a case to use the remaining 3,700 sq metres before submitting a new planning application in the future.

He said: “They want to open it and start selling at some point but it’s important that it can’t happen until there’s a demand for it.

“The main reason is to protect retailers in the town centre. They need the chance to get back on an even keel.”

He added: “Tesco must assume they will be able to expand, but we have got safeguards in place”.

The proposals will be discussed behind closed doors at a meeting of Blackburn with Darwen’s ruling executive board tonight.

It is believed the new “green” store will be similar to the flagship branch which opened this month at Cheetham Hill in Manchester, which has timber cladding and wind turbines on the roof.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We are really keen to invest in Blackburn, and to improve the site for our customers.

“We are in discussion with the council over potential redevelopment.”