FEARS are growing for hundreds of jobs promised with the opening of two new supermarkets just yards apart.

Open "store wars" broke out in Durham City in 2014 when Asda and Morrisons announced plans to move into Dragonville, an area currently dominated by a huge and well-established Tesco Extra store.

Promising 400 jobs at a new Dragon Lane branch on the former Mono Containers site, Asda submitted a planning application to Durham County Council that summer.

Morrisons went further still, securing planning permission to open a 6,000sq metre food supermarket in part of the B&Q store on Durham City Retail Park that October.

As recently as January (2015), Morrisons was saying work would begin on its 300-job outlet in May and the store would open by this Christmas.

But 18 months after the planning application was filed, the council is yet to rule on Asda’s plans and, although B&Q has completed its downsizing operation, it appears Morrisons is yet to start work on the ground in the space the DIY giant has vacated.

The delays have led to fears both schemes could fall flat – along with the 700 jobs that local residents had hoped for.

Asda remains committed to the project, with a spokesman saying: “Our planning application is currently with Durham County Council and we await confirmation of when it will be presented to the council’s planning committee.”

Stuart Timmiss, the council’s head of planning and assets, said: “Since its submission we have been involved in ongoing discussions with the applicants and continue to meet with them to advise on conditions to their proposal which would mitigate against any potentially negative impacts on the area.

“Planning applications of this scale are, of course, determined by the elected members, but we’re committed to continuing these positive discussions with a view to this proposal moving to the committee stage in the near future.”

The Northern Echo repeatedly contacted Morrisons to request an update on its scheme, but received no response.

It is understood preparations have stalled, but the retailer could return to the project if market conditions improve.

Meanwhile, there are also rumours discount supermarket Aldi is interested in expanding from its base on Dragonville Retail Park.