A RENEWED effort will be made to bring a supermarket to Bowburn after a new planning permission was granted.

Consent was first granted to build a large store on Bowburn South Industrial Estate in 2008.

Since then, the permission has been varied twice and renewed once, but still no project has gone ahead.

However, developers the Ogden Group feel there is “renewed interest” in the sector and applied to renew planning permission for another three years.

In a statement to Durham County Council, the firm said: “Whilst certain national operators are still experiencing difficult trading conditions there are a number of operators who are now reviewing new opportunities to expand their market share and provide new facilities in areas where current provision is very limited such as Bowburn.

“As a result, there is now a renewed interest generally within the food retail sector for new opportunities and we are more confident that an end operator for the proposed development will be secured in the short to medium term.

“As a result we are now looking to extend the planning permission on the site for a further three years to allow a more aggressive marketing campaign to take place and an end operator to be found.”

Aldi and Lidl have been rumoured as potential operators. Such a scheme would create about 300 jobs.

No filling station is planned as part of the development, although there would be a large car park.

Today (Tuesday, November 10), Durham County Council’s central and east planning committee granted planning permission for the scheme.

Planning officer Peter Herbert told the County Hall forum there had been a long-standing aspiration to provide Bowburn with an adequately sized food store.

The impact on shops in nearby Coxhoe had been considered, Mr Herbert said, along with the effect on local roads. But he still recommended permission be approved.

Councillor Bill Moir said: “I’d be delighted if this became successful in Bowburn. It’s probably just what Bowburn wants.”

Cllr John Lethbridge, who described himself as a Bowburn lad, added: “I’m fully aware of the need for shopping facilities in the village.”

The committee supported the application unanimously.

Bowburn has grown rapidly in recent years and has a population of more than 3,000, but no shop bigger than a local Co-op.