Plans to build a new out-of-town shopping centre including a new Lidl store in Camborne have been recommended for approval.

The recommendation has come despite strong objections from Camborne Town Council and businesses in the town which are concerned at reports that the development could result in the loss of £1 for every £9 spent in the town centre.

A planning application for the new retail park off Roseworthy Hill is set to go before Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee next Thursday (July 25).

Under the plans there would be a new Lidl food store along with a Home Bargains store. Originally there were plans for a third retail unit but this has been dropped.

In a separate application, which is also going to the committee next week, there are plans for a “drive-thru” coffee shop and filling station. No operator of the coffee shop has been revealed.

Planning officers have recommended that both applications should be approved with conditions.

The recommendation was made despite officers stating in their report that the development “could have a clear adverse impact upon the health of Camborne town centre, and the scale of this impact is very close to becoming a significant adverse impact”.

In the report which will go to the committee next week officers state: “In terms of employment, the applicant envisages the proposal will provide in the region of 160 jobs and that the development would see an investment of £11m into the local economy. Significant weight has been given to the economic growth that would be generated in the local economy from this scheme. However, while these benefits are noted, in turn it is acknowledged there would be economic disadvantages to Camborne Town Centre with a large level of trade loss equivalent to the loss of £1 in every £9 spent in the town centre which weighs against the scheme.”

To mitigate against this officers have said that if planning permission is granted the applicants should pay £409,250. This would be used to provide £96,250 for the marketing of Camborne Town Centre; £135,000 for shop front improvements in the town centre; £70,000 towards a town centre manager for two years; and £108,000 towards the Treswithian cycle scheme.

In their recommendation planning officers admit that it is a “finely balanced” case but say the proposals are “acceptable”.

Ahead of the application going before the committee there has been a public meeting and public exhibition held on the plans.

At the public meeting Business Improvement District (BID) Camborne, which represents 297 traders in the town centre, said it objected to the plans as it would reduce their trade.

Camborne Town Centre said in its submission: “Camborne Town Council strongly recommends that Cornwall Council reject this application as we believe that will cause significant adverse impact on the trading activity of the town centre and Treswithian Stores. We believe that the need for this proposed development has not been proven and that it offers nothing that is not already available within Camborne. Developing out of town retail parks that encourage car use is in direct contrast to the declarations of a climate emergency as declared by UK Parliament and Cornwall Council.”

A total of 278 public comments have been received with 212 objections and 60 in support.

The strategic planning committee will meet to decide the two planning applications next Thursday (July 25).