The major multiples are manipulating local council planning systems to enable further expansion, according to a report by Friends of the Earth.

FOE declares that as market leader Tesco assumes the most significant position of power.

The retail chain is expected to double its estate of Express stores to 1,200, and triple its number of Tesco Extra hypermarkets to 300 by 2015.

And despite the nationwide drive to discourage surburban development, more than 60 per cent of retail development still takes place on the outskirts of towns.

Following evidence from 200 planning disputes the report found that the multiples were guilty of adopting bullish behaviour in order to achieve their demands.

It states that supermarkets are ignoring planning systems, or by-passing them by entering into separate legal agreements with councils.

In addition, they use “planning gain”, offering local authorities valuable facilities, including car parks, and affordable housing, to help gain planning permission.

And they buy up land which can be a barrier for local councils which want to develop housing or other facilities, the report adds.

Some councillors also admit to being pressured into accepting supermarket planning applications because of concerns over costs of appeal, the report claims.

FOE accused the supermarkets of exercising expert lobbying tactics on a local level.

As well as running PR campaigns ahead of planning permission requests, Tesco, for example, has been seen to target local councillors at home, and use celebrities and specific websites to sway communities.

The market leader’s omnipresence has led to some areas being branded as ‘Tesco Towns’.

In Inverness, the retailer currently attracts some 51 per cent of all food sales, but is looking to grow this figure with an application to build a fourth store.

FOE has also raised concern over the supermarkets’ recent expansion into housing and the question of the right to privatise the UK’s public space.

FOE’s supermarket campaigner Robin Webster said: “Given the very genuine concerns about the impact of supermarkets on our high streets, our farmers and on consumer choice, this raises important questions about how decisions are being made about the future of our communities. Planning legislation desperately needs to be strengthened and the Competition Commission must look again at the power exercised by supermarket chains.

FOE is calling for the competition agencies to tackle supermarket dominance on the high street and for planning legislation to be strengthened.

The organisation also claimed that The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) should refer the matter to the Competition Commission for a full market review.

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