THE future of a potentially major development in Ulverston remains in the balance after a judicial review hearing.

Plans for a 20,000sqft supermarket on the site of the disused Robinsons Brewery in Ulverston town centre were approved by South Lakeland District Council's planning committee in April 2013 - with Asda and Tesco rumoured to be interested.

A judicial review held at Manchester Administrative Court was told by Judge Waksman QC that a written draft statement with his final decision will be presented in two to three weeks' time.

Community group Keep Ulverston Special (KUS) challenged the SLDC decision at the hearing claiming the development, which would also include a 90-space underground car park, would have 'massive environmental impacts' on the town.

A KUS spokesperson said: "Development of the Brewery site is sorely needed, but it has to be appropriate development if it is not to undermine Ulverston's future viability and attractiveness for residents, big business investment and visitors.

"We think, and lawyers agree, that SLDC failed to follow due process and glossed over many difficulties when considering this application and that if they had taken account of all factors properly, for instance by conducting a proper environmental impact assessment, they may have reached a different decision.

But before the judicial review SLDC was confident its plans would be upheld.

A spokesperson said: "The council will be presenting a case at the hearing that the claim for judicial review of the council’s decisions to grant planning permission and conservation area consent is without merit and should be dismissed."