TESCO's battle to build a superstore in Burnley will be heard at a specially convened meeting of councillors next month.

The controversial application for a store and filling station on land at Centenary Way was to have been considered by the council's development control sub-committee this Thursday.

But today a planning department chief said it had now been decided that a special meeting to consider the issue would be held on December 15.

Council planning chiefs have already given permission to Sainsbury to develop the former Prestige site for a supermarket, DIY store and business and technology centre.

Sainsbury got a clear run at the 11-acre Prestige site after rival developer Castlemore Securities Ltd dropped out recently.

Tesco, which has run a town-wide campaign to win support for its proposals, had asked for all applications to be considered together, arguing that each was a material consideration in determination of the others.

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