SUPERSTORE wars have broken out with two developers locked in a row about a planned new B&Q near Bolton town centre.

Two planning applications will go before Bolton councillors tomorrow.

One is from Leicester-based Helical Retail for a 15,328 sq metre store on land which would be the second phase of the Boltongate shopping centre, off Kay Street.

The other is from Widnes-based Morbaine for a 14,157 sq metre scheme at Trinity Street.

Helical has already announced that it has been in talks with B&Q and the store would create between 150 and 175 new jobs. But a letter from Morbaine will be presented to councillors on Thursday claiming that B&Q has not formally signed with Helical and they have also been in talks with B&Q and the firm will trade from either site.

This has, however, provoked a furious reaction from B&Q and a letter from its development manager David Childs will also be presented to councillors.

It says that he is "astonished" by claims made in the letter from Morbaine's development executive Alex Brodie.

The letter adds: "We have full board approval for the Boltongate scheme and are at an advanced stage of legal negotiations with Helical Retail Ltd.

"The reason that the contract has taken longer to complete than expected is principally due to the complex nature of the site and the many legal interests involved."

It adds: "Commercial terms have been put to us by Morbaine but negotiations have not progressed further." He went on: "If every developer who quoted terms to us on a particular site regarded himself as having a pre-letting agreement, B&Q would be taking about 50 stores in Manchester alone next year.

"We only regard an agreement as sufficiently firm to lend formal support when we have board approval and are progressing contract documentation towards a binding legal commitment."

Mr Paul Horner, Helical's North-west development director, said: "Helical Retail has a strong relationship with B&Q. We have been given board approval and have already agreed terms on the Helical site which is their preferred choice."

A Morbaine spokesman said: "We have also had a letter from B&Q which says that while they do have an interest in the Trinity Street site, they remain supportive of the Boltongate proposal."

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