TESCO has re-applied for permission to convert a former Birchencliffe pub into a store.

Developer Khela UK Ltd and Tesco Stores Ltd are once again seeking consent to demolish the Grey Horse pub and build two retail units with car parking at the Halifax Road site.

It comes four months after Kirklees planners rejected what Tesco and the developer now concede is an “almost identical scheme.”

On January 4 Kirklees Council planning committee members said the store, which would trade from 7am-11pm every day, would have “severe cumulative impacts” on traffic and a “detrimental impact” on neighbours.

But the applicants have returned with analysis statements to refute the grounds for refusal.

The analysis focused on turning movements from Halifax Road into the site.

A traffic survey took place on April 16 by an independent survey company and shows morning and evening peak hours, between 7am and 8am and 5pm and 6pm with two way flows of 1,688 and 1,814 vehicles respectively.

They say results of a junction and signal design software system, called PICADY, show the proposed site access would operate at 16% of maximum capacity during the busiest peak hour, with “vehicle queues predicted at less than one vehicle.”

They also say the junction would have 84% reserve capacity. Therefore, even with a “significant variation in traffic flows” they say no significant delays or queues are likely to occur.

The applicants conclude in their statement to Kirklees: “The capacity analysis illustrates that the proposals will have a negligible impact upon traffic with the site access junction operating well within capacity and no material queues predicted. No material effect upon highway safety is therefore expected.”

They’ve also looked at the store’s servicing arrangements against a similar site which was granted after a review by the Planning Inspectorate.

The statement adds: “With regard to the second section of the first reason for refusal, the wording is somewhat unusual, as the HGV servicing area is some way from the site access and goods vehicles, while loading and unloading, would be in excess of 10 metres away from it.”

And to back-up the applicant’s case, they have supplied details of a ruling by the Planning Inspectorate, who overturned a ruling of another authority for a similar site in Leicester, which is now trading.

The latest planning application has been submitted to Kirklees Council and a public consultation runs until May 18.