Plans for a new Tesco store in Macclesfield have hit the buffers after council planning bosses said the application should be refused.

The supermarket giant applied for permission for a new 150,000 square foot store at Barracks Mill on Black Lane earlier this year.

The proposal also included plans for new retail units on the store's current site on Hibel Road.

However it sparked widespread opposition with a No to Tesco Extra group swinging into action and a petition against the plans gaining more than 3,000 signatures.

As part of their consideration of the application, Cheshire East commissioned a group of retail experts to look at the plan.

The experts said food shopping would in fact not be the focus of the new store and concluded it would damage the town centre by drawing people away.

So the council's planning department will recommend the application is refused when it goes before the council's strategic planning board.

Council leader Michael Jones announced the decision to the town's business leaders at the Make it Macclesfield Business Breakfast on this morning.

Speaking afterwards he told the Express: "This decision has been very carefully thought out.

"It isn't all about pounds and pence.

"We know the plan is in the interests of Tesco but it also has to be in the interest of the people of Macclesfield.

"Tesco are a big player in the town and we want to work with them but we can't have an out of town development detracting from the town centre."

But local councillor Gill Boston criticised the decision saying: " "I don't see how Tesco can affect the town centre when it already exists.

"Most of my constituents support the plan.

"That site has been derelict for a long time, it's an eyesore and it's a disgrace.

"They want to see it redeveloped."

Tesco would have to make major changes to the plan for the recommendation to be reconsidered, and it would also have to go through another round of public consultation.

For the full story see Wednesday's edition of the Macclesfield Express.