SUPERMARKET giant Asda has come under fire from environmental campaigners for "exploiting" a planning law loophole to expand its York superstore.

Members of York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth (FoE) have attacked Asda for adding a mezzanine floor to their Monk's Cross shopping Park branch.

Mezzanine is the name often given to a floor between ground and first floors.

No planning permission is required to build a mezzanine floor because it counts as alterations to existing buildings, the loophole FoE claims Asda is exploiting.

Friends of the Earth claims large scale mezzanine floor or basement extensions significantly affect local communities, businesses and the environment.

Guy Wallbanks, co-ordinator of York and Ryedale FoE, said: "Asda is already claiming that its mezzanine floor in York, housing non-food goods, is drawing people in their cars from much further afield. Traffic generation can cause congestion and pollution and would normally be assessed by the planning authority."

City council development control manager Cliff Carruthers admitted the new floor was a "regret."

He said: "The Government's concern is we should not construct any more out-of-town shopping centres. If extra floor space is put in through a mezzanine floor then that is a way around it. It is something we regret, but have no control over."

Green Party councillor for Fishergate Andy D'Agorne backed FoE. "This does appear to be a planning law loophole and is a matter of concern," he said.

An Asda spokesman said: "Asda, and all other retailers, operate within the existing planning system. This system provides flexibility to amend retail formats in appropriate circumstances. For Friends of the Earth to describe this flexibility as a

'loophole' misrepresents the reality of the planning process and the strong controls that it places on retailers.

"Mezzanine floors are an innovative way of creating more choice for existing customers and often allow the reconfiguration of store space, enabling Asda to provide an improved shopping environment for customers. "Benefits include, for example, the widening of aisles for improved disabled access, plus the addition of customer facilities."

Updated: 11:16 Monday, July 21, 2003