Plans to develop the former Cattle Market site into a supermarket are "foolhardy" and "potentially dangerous" to the health of Cowbridge town centre without reliable and up-to-date data, a retail impact assessment has concluded.

Cowbridge Chamber of Trade commissioned the report prepared by Reeves Retail Planning Consultancy, with the town council and HRT Estate Agents also paying a third of the cost each.

The report examined planning policies, Cowbridge's retail needs, and the impact of the proposed supermarket development.

It concluded that there "is no evidence to support the Council's suggestion that there is a need for additional supermarket development in Cowbridge".

RRPC's report also warned that smaller food stores such as Filco and Tesco Express were most at risk of closing in the wake of the new supermarket, but Waitrose would also be affected.

"The impacts experienced by these food stores would therefore, inevitably, be very high and we consider it very unlikely that all three would continue to trade if a new store were to be developed at the Cattle Market," the report reads.

"As all these stores are located within the defined town centre, this would result in a major diversion of town centre trade to a sequentially inferior edge-of-centre store, resulting in a large and very damaging impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre."

Finding there was no need for an additional food retailer in Cowbridge, the report concluded that using the Cattle Market site for a such a development "would therefore be contrary to both the LDP and national retail and town centre planning policy".

"We therefore consider that the promotion of such a scheme by a developer or food retailer would be contrary to planning policy and thus should be refused by the Vale of Glamorgan as local planning authority," it reads.

"Further, to promote this form of development in the absence of a reliable and up-to-date evidence base, is, in our opinion, both foolhardy and potentially dangerous, not just to the health of Cowbridge town centre, but to the principle of a plan-led approach to development."

The report also acknowledged the need for more up-to-date data regarding shopping patterns in the Vale of Glamorgan.

"We are not aware of any surveys undertaken since Waitrose and Asda opened in Cowbridge and Barry respectively. Both stores would have been expected to significantly affect convenience shopping patterns in the area."

The Vale of Glamorgan Council's plans are also subject to assessment.

"It is anticipated a medium sized food retailer at this location would improve the retail offer of Cowbridge town centre, making it more resilient by reducing the need for residents to travel further afield to shop for food, which in turn is more environmentally sustainable," the council said.

Cllr Lis Burnett, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: "The Council is committed to regenerating the former Livestock Market site in Cowbridge and attracting a food retailer to this location in the future remains a possibility.

"However, community views on this subject are important and must be carefully assessed.

"To ensure we proceed with the correct course of action, it is prudent to take time to reflect on some alternative potential uses for this land before deciding on the best way forward.

"I'd like to thank the individuals that have taken the time to share their ideas with us.

"Ultimately, the correct use for the land will be the one that most benefits Cowbridge, while also being viable, affordable, deliverable and providing regeneration for this important part of the town.

"These will be the factors that drive our decision."