People in Cockermouth will have to wait to find out whether a new retail development can be built in the town.

A developer wants to build a food store and a separate retail unit on vacant land behind Lakes Homecentre on Low Road.

Members of Allerdale council's development panel met to discuss the plans and agreed they were minded to refuse planning permission.

But the decision on whether to grant planning permission could lie with the government following a request for the Secretary of State to call in the plans.

Opus Land North (Cockermouth) Ltd wants permission for the development, on land currently allocated for industrial use.

Agent Jeremy Williams, of ID Planning, said companies had not yet been lined up to occupy the proposed units but the development had the potential to create 50 jobs.

He added that the developer was confident of filling the units, which would each measure 1,486 square metres internally.

Objectors fear the development could harm the town centre.

David Siddall told the meeting: "Hot on the heels of Oakhurst, which is already sucking trade and footfall out of the town, this will further exacerbate this trend.

"It will continue unless councillors stand up democratically for their town centres."

Gillian Telford added: "Inappropriate, uncontrolled development has had severe adverse effects on other market towns, irrevocably changing them, and we must make sure this doesn't happen in Cockermouth."

Councillor Alan Smith, representing the town council, raised concerns about the loss of an industrial site when there was a shortage of potential land in the town to build business units on.

He said: "Why continually built houses and shops when we have a duty to provide employment in the town.

"Take this site away and it's gone."

The meeting heard that the proposed buildings would have raised floors to reduce flood risk and the car park was expected to have permeable surfacing to allow water to soak away in the event of a flood.

Concerns were raised that the flood risk to areas surrounding the site could be increased by the removal of part of an old railway embankment, which was planned to make way for the work.

Objectors were also concerned about the loss of trees, including some protected by a tree preservation order.

Planning officers had recommended approval of the plans, subject to conditions.

Coun Adrian Davis-Johnston moved refusal of the plans.

He said: "It's a speculative proposal as there are no end users identified.

"What we would be doing in effect is allocating land for retail use.

"It would significantly affect the availability of industrial land in Cockermouth."

He also raised concerns about the loss of trees.

The motion was seconded by Coun Nicky Cockburn.

Councillors voted 10 to one in favour of refusal, with one abstention.

The council must now wait to find out whether the Secretary of State will call in the plans and decide the application centrally, or whether it can issue a decision to refuse permission.