SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's has decided to submit written evidence to outline its objections to Worcester's Local Plan.

Representatives from the chain, which wants to build a store on the site of St John's Leisure Centre, have handed their portfolio to the Local Plan inspector, rather than speaking at a review meeting yesterday.

A team from Tesco, which wants to build a superstore on the site of Christopher Whitehead School, had already voiced its objections during a meeting at the Guildhall on Tuesday.

A city council spokesman confirmed there was nothing untoward about Sainsbury's decision and the written evidence would be considered by the Local Plan inspector during the next three months.

A final decision on whether to opt for a Sainsbury or Tesco development within the St John's catchment area is expected to be made by December.

Sainsbury's currently has planning permission to build at Swanpool Walk, with one condition being that it should finance the building of a new leisure centre.

Ultimately, it needs a compulsory purchase order, made on behalf of the city council, to purchase a segment of land owned by the county council at the site.

Tesco hopes to persuade the inspector to use a criteria-based policy, which is non-site specific in the Local Plan.

It does not have planning permission to build on the school site and the Local Plan only has room for one large superstore to serve St John's.