A DEVELOPER has revealed revised proposals to build a supermarket in Sale Moor - seven months after campaigners thought they had won the battle to block the scheme.

Plans to build 1,140 sq. m store and two three-bedroom semi-detached houses seemed to be quashed last year after leader of the council Cllr Sean Anstee refused to sell the council-owned land - Warrener Street car park - to the developer.

But now developer Kirkland Developments, says it has "responded to discussions with the local community and Trafford Council by making a number of major changes to the plans, including a more modern store design."

A planning application was submitted in March incorporating Warrener Street Car Park, the site of the IMO car wash on Northenden Road and 26a Marsland Road.

Sale Moor councillor Mike Freeman - who has supported the campaign against the development - said he was 'gobsmacked' that he had only been alerted to the plans by the Messenger.

The developer claims other 'significant modifications' have been made as a result of the feedback received from residents during the public consultation held last year.

The proposed foodstore will include a 90-space car park, equivalent to the parking capacity at the existing Warrener Street car park, and a 1,140 sq m. store.

Kirkland Developments believes the new building design will provide a more contemporary looking store, with significant glazing on the shop façade, providing an attractive signature development on Northenden Road.

A major change to the design is a new roof, 'which will provide a heightened sense of space without increasing the building’s overall height, or its impact on neighbouring properties'.

Other changes include the time limit for the free car park has been increased from 1.5 hours to two hours

Kirkland Developments has also guaranteed a temporary car park during the build period to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses.

Kirkland Developments is promising funding for improvements to the junction of Northenden Road and Marsland Road, nd there wil be restricted delivery times.

Rod Hogarth, managing director of Kirkland Developments, said:

“The new design of the store is one of just a number of changes made to the proposed scheme.

"Kirkland Developments has carried out extensive public consultation in relation to the proposals for Sale Moor, and a number of the suggestions made by members of the community have now been incorporated into the revised plans.

"These modifications will ensure that the foodstore provides maximum benefits to the community in Sale Moor, including existing businesses in the Village Centre who rely on the car parking facility for their successful trade and who will benefit from additional footfall as a result of the development.”

Sale Moor Cllr Mike Freeman said afterwards: "It was very disappointing to find out that Kirkland has submitted major changes to its plans for the supermarket proposal in Sale Moor and the date for the planning committee hearing via a press release it has put out.

"That said, I am reassured that the council isnow responding in the proper manner to the proposed changes by writing to all interested parties and entering into a further short period of consultation.

"I am also reassured regarding the planning committee date which is not set in stone as Kirkland pronounced in the press release.

"There is nothing I have read and in the Kirkland press release that changes my mind about the development and I will still be speaking against the planning application at planning committee."

A spokesman for We Are Sale Moor Community Interest Group said: "The size, shape, look and feel are irrelevant - it is still a supermarket and that is what we object to.

"Our vision is for Sale Moor to be a thriving, caring and safe community that celebrates independent businesses and welcomes people to our Village. 'Celebrating independent businesses' is the key part: a supermarket in our Village would see the closure of independent butchers, greengrocers, bakers, chemists and florists - some of which have been there for over 100 years.

"We know that our local community support our fight and we urge them to become even more vocal over the next few weeks, as we approach the Planning Meeting. We will keep our community up-to-date through our We Are Sale Moor Facebook page, Twitter feed and posters in the Village shops."

The planning application is due to be determined by the planning committee on July 14.