TESCO looks set to renew its bid to build a supermarket in a county town.

Representatives of the retail giant have met planning chiefs at Malvern Hills District Council – fuelling speculation the company is about to make a fresh attempt to develop the site at the former Cattle Market site in Tenbury Wells.

Tesco still has a few weeks in which to appeal against the decision of Malvern Hills planners to refuse its most recent application in January. Options include launching an appeal, lodging a new application or both.

District council Phil Grove, who represents Tenbury, says he is aware of the renewed interest from Tesco but has no details.

The latest development comes as one of the leading figures in planning the future look of Tenbury has warned that a supermarket on the site is “virtually inevitable”.

Alan Eachus, a member of Tenbury Area Partnership and the town’s civic society, says he would like to see a community building on the site but that this is not realistic because the land is privately owned and designated for retail use.

Campaign group Tenbury Futures recently conducted a survey which found that most residents questioned did not want a supermarket and would prefer the site to house a museum or tourist information centre.

The group intends to present its own vision for the site to Tenbury Town Council.

“It is inevitable that the owner of the site will want to get maximum value and that means a supermarket,” said Mr Eachus.

“The important thing will be to make sure the design is as good as it can be and in line with the character of the town.”

He said that the design submitted and refused earlier in the year was not suitable but believed that an acceptable project was possible.

He said: “I see no reason why a better design, one that is more in keeping with Tenbury, cannot be devised.”