Retail park and new homes planned for Kirkby's Patco Site

The development, which could create about 100 jobs, would be at The Patco Site on Lowmoor Road that was formerly occupied by the international textiles company, Romo Fabrics.

It would include two drive-through restaurants or cafes, a large discount-supermarket, other shops, possibly for food vendors or takeaways, and also business and office units.

The housing would be made up of 44 two-bedroom flats or maisonettes in a four-storey building and 15 three-bedroom townhouses.

The site has been up for sale since Romo merged all its Ashfield operations at its base at Oddicroft Lane in Sutton in October last year.

Now, the company has lodged a planning application with Ashfield District Council for the new development, and a decision is expected by the end of June.

It is yet to be negotiated which companies would take over the supermarket, restaurants and shops.

Supporters of the scheme say it would revive a piece of land that has been vacant for more than six months and also create much-needed employment.

The agent for the developers is Aspbury Planning Ltd, of Basford. A spokesperson said: “This will principally serve the urban area to the south of Kirkby, and attract new trade.

"While some trade will inevitably be drawn from Kirkby town centre, it will principally be from the Morrisons store, which is performing very strongly. Even after the level of expected trade diversion, Morrisons will still be doing well.

"The Patco Site is well connected, benefiting from good links to public transport, while the development also presents the opportunity to improve connectivity from the town centre for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Shoppers canvassed in Kirkby broadly welcomed the scheme, although some questioned the need for another supermarket in the town.

Walter Copeland, 68, said: “If it creates jobs and new business, it can only be good for the area.

"There are no fast-food chains in the town, but I’m unsure about the supermarket because we’ve got Morrisons and Aldi already.

"My only concern is traffic because Lowmoor Road can get quite busy and congested.”

Becky Preater, 38, said: “It’s a good idea in principle, but the main issue would be the amount of traffic.”