TESCO claims rival Sainsbury’s should open a new supermarket at Colchester’s Cowdray Centre – instead of half-a-mile from one of its own stores.

Sainsbury’s has submitted an application to build a superstore at the B&Q site, in Lightship Way.

However, Tesco claims a retail assessment provided with Sainsbury’s plans fails to demonstrate the impact it will have on its Colchester supermarkets.

Tesco objections include:

! Significant harm to its store in Greenstead Road, the Hythe, which is half a mile away from the Lightship Way site.

! Impact on Tesco’s forthcoming Butt Road supermarket

! The closure of B&Q would lead to an unacceptable loss of choice, competition and diversity of DIY retailing in Colchester

! The Cowdray Centre, in Cowdray Avenue, would be a better location for a supermarket.

Tesco has called for “a proper and robust assessment” of Colchester’s supermarkets and what effect a new Sainsbury’s would have.

A spokesman said: “We raised some concerns because we felt another new store may have a detrimental impact on other local businesses and traffic.”

Colchester Council’s planning committee will making a decision on the application, but could ask Sainsbury’s for more information.

The council says it is waiting for a response from Sainsbury’s planning consultants, Indigo Planning.

David Lazenby, Sainsbury’s town planning manager, said it is confident its report is robust.

He said: “Our proposals for a new store, bringing competition and choice to the Hythe, have been broadly welcomed by the residents who attended our public exhibitions.

“We’ve undertaken a full retail impact assessment, which has been submitted to Colchester Council, as part of our planning application.

“We are confident the report is robust.

“We look forward to Colchester Council deciding the application soon.”

Sainsbury’s says the Cowdray Centre, in Cowdray Avenue, is not a viable site for a new supermarket because Colchester Council has designated the land for mixed use – not a food store.

The Sainsbury’s store, which is scheduled to open in 2017 if it gets permission, would be its fourth in Colchester – creating 450 jobs.

Supermarket bosses have already been asked to provide more information about its traffic assessment after claiming many shoppers will walk, cycle or get the bus to store.