PENDLE firm Barnfield Construction is hoping to reassure residents concerned about their plans to develop a retail park on a site off Vivary Way that they have taken their words on board.

The company will find out tomorrow night whether they will be given outline planning permission to build a business and retail park, which would include a DIY store with garden centre and builders' merchants, restaurants, takeaways and industrial units.

But campaigners have slammed the proposals on the grounds it would be on a former landfill site and a number of mature trees would be threatened.

A spokesman for Barnfield said: "Many concerns of the relevant bodies have been addressed including highways issues, retail impact studies and site investigations.

"However, at the previous planning committee meeting it was clear that local residents and members of the committee were very keen to receive more information relating to the proposed development before a decision could be made.

"Barnfield Construction welcomed this opportunity to answer questions and address any concerns that were raised and, in our opinion, was most useful to all who attended.

"As the planning application is in outline only some of the detail, such as the exact design of the proposed buildings or the drainage system, has not been carried out.

"The residents will be safeguarded against these points as, if planning permission is granted, conditions will be imposed requiring the developer to satisfy the relevant statutory body before development can be carried out."