COUNCILLORS raised concerns about the Tesco application for a new store in Huddersfield – but then backed it.

With the exception of Golcar’s Clr Christine Iredale, all planning councillors voted in favour of the plan for the giant superstore.

But first one branded Tesco “hard nosed” and “difficult to deal with” and another said the planned store looked like a shed.

And the council said promises of a landmark building had not been delivered.

But councillors did ask for conditions to be met which include a free town bus for five years and free parking.

Further discussions will take place to increase the number of trees and improving the design of the building, but nothing has been agreed.

And plans for the affordable housing included in the scheme for the retail giant’s current Viaduct Street site have also not been finalised – Tesco has the option of building 60 units or paying £5m index linked.

Clr Ken Sims said: “Tesco are hard-nosed successful business people and it has been difficult to deal with them.

“We have dealt with them and we’ve got out of this application more benefits than negatives.”

Clr Barbara Jones added: “It looks like a shed to me, with Christmas decorations on it. I can’t accept that this is a leading-edge design.”

Nick Willock, planning case officer, told councillors: “There are shortcomings to the proposal.

“Tesco were to create a landmark building for Huddersfield, the landmark building has not been achieved.

“The building was to be a leading-edge with the latest environment technology. While there is some carbon reduction the proposal for the latest technology has not been utilised and this is not leading-edge.

“There are 25% fewer trees than those lost, this would be a detriment to the bio-diversity.”

Jill Atkinson, town centre work place chaplin, Steven Pollitt, chairman of the town centre partnership, and Clr Andrew Cooper all spoke in opposition to the plans.