PLANS to build a supermarket in the middle of Droitwich have been submitted at the same time English Heritage is considering designating the area an ancient monument.

Although no date has been set to discuss Waitrose's application to build on the Market Hall and car park site, Jack Hegarty, head of planning for Wychavon District Council, said he anticipated it would be considered in February next year.

But he confirmed English Heritage had written to the council about possible plans to designate part of Droitwich an ancient monument.

The area covers a large part of the town, including Saltway and the proposed Waitrose site.

An English Heritage spokesman said it had been drawing up plans to designate the area for more than a year.

"Droitwich has been one of the most significant sites in the country for salt production since before Roman times," said the spokesman.

"Twenty years of excavations in the area and an English Heritage study of the history of salt manufacturing have established the importance of the Saltway site.

"It is the reason for Droitwich's existence and is what defines the town's history and character."

He said English Heritage was disappointed not to have been told about the Waitrose application sooner, but said it was not against the development in principal.

"English Heritage is currently in consultation with Wychavon District Council and local landowners to find a solution that takes on board everybody's interests," the spokesman added.

If the area is declared an ancient monument, then any developer wanting to build there would have to apply for ancient monument status in addition to normal planning permission.