PLANNING watchdogs in Leominster have likened the design for a proposed DIY superstore to 'an over-sized shed.'

Leominster Civic Trust says it is concerned over the visual impact of the proposed Focus store at Mill Street and it also fears the development could threaten town centre businesses.

The trust is urging county planners to reject the scheme. It says housing would be a better option for 'brownfield' riverside land owned by industrialists Frank H Dale.

Dales, which is making a second bid to build the DIY store, has claimed the scheme would boost shopping choice.

The civic trust, taking the opposing view, is urging county planners to reject it, in major part, for economic reasons.

The store, with an anticipated annual turnover of £2.6 million, would have about twice the floor area of Leominster's Somerfield supermarket.

The new business could 'diversify' into electrical goods, garden products, furnishing and clothing and pull the rug from town centre shops, the trust fears.

"We are extremely concerned that that the potential effects on the town's economy would be extremely damaging," said chairman Dr Dennis Hawkins.

"Millions of pounds of public and private investment has been made in the town over the last six years as part of the regeneration process with considerable success in reversing it previous failing situation.

"However, the retail sector is still fragile."

Dr Hawkins says the applicant's own economic assessment refers to the possibility that more than one retailer would trade from the store.

"In view of the well-known tendency for large stores to diversify into any product line for which they think there will be a demand, it is quite likely that a very wide range of non-food items would be offered," he has told planners.

The trust says the site is too sensitive to 'sacrifice to an over-sized shed'. It criticises the roof and wall cladding of coloured corrugated steel sheeting as 'totally unsympathetic to the Conservation Area'.

The riverside site was earmarked for up to 30 houses in the county's Unitary Development Plan. The height and scale of houses would be much more appropriate for the setting with it view to the Priory Church beyond, says the trust.

Last month Dales chiefs said they had taken previous objections into account and had come up with what they felt was an acceptable plan.

The new store would be leased to the Focus chain. The income would help to bolster the future of the family-owned Dales factory and its workforce, they said.

A county planning spokeswoman said the plan was not yet on the agenda for consideration by councillors. It was not due to be dealt with at the next northern area planning meeting in March.