Council officers are investigating after workmen moved onto the proposed new Tesco supermarket site this week, while planning talks continue.

Heavy machinery rolled onto the cleared plot off Railway Road and Mayfield Road in Ilkley this week, as Tesco awaits the outcome of an application to renew planning permission for the new store, plus the redevelopment of its existing Springs Lane site.

The national supermarket chain says it has now discharged all the necessary planning conditions of the previous planning permission, granted by the Government planning inspector on appeal in 2010.

Permission was due to expire this autumn if work had not begun on site.

Tesco says it plans to open its new store in 2017 or 2018.

But concerned residents contacted the Gazette when they saw heavy plant, including a pile driver and digger, move onto the site this week.

There have been several years or negotiations between the company and Council over conditions imposed on the planning consent for the new store.

Tesco submitted an application to the Council earlier this month for the approval of details reserved by condition. This has yet to be determined by Bradford Council.

In a statement yesterday (Wednesday) the company said: “We are committed to building a store in Ilkley. The new store will create dozens of new jobs for local people and bring great value and convenient shopping to the area. We’ve now discharged all the necessary planning conditions, including the drainage condition, and have had legal advice to this effect.

“We’ve begun some initial work on the site to stabilise the ground but we don’t expect to start more significant works on site until closer to the store’s planned opening in 2017/18.”

The Council says it is looking into the matter.

Bradford Council’s Major Developments Manager, John Eyles, said: “We have received information that contractors would be starting work on the Tesco site in Ilkley this week and we are investigating the situation.”

It is believed Tesco’s applications for the renewal of planning permission for both the replacement supermarket and the redevelopment of the Springs Lane site could go before a Bradford Council committee as early as next month.