WESTON’S former rubbish tip could be converted into a new supermarket.

A food store is one of a number of possible uses for disused land near Herluin Way.

Leisure, employment and other retail opportunities will also be discussed for the area behind Iceland, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut.

The area was used for landfill until the 1980s before Avoncrest Developments Ltd entered a 125-year lease with North Somerset Council for the site in 1994.

It promised a range of employment units, nine-hole golf course, clubhouse and a driving range, however only the latter was ever built and has since closed.

No redevelopment plans have ever materialised and opening it to build a supermarket was originally ruled by the council however its position has softened.

It has agreed to work with Avoncrest to produce a master plan for the land to advertise it to businesses.

A council spokesman said converting the former landfill site was anything but a rubbish idea.

He said: “This decision allows the council to enter into a joint venture agreement with Avoncrest to enable us to jointly master plan the site for alternative development and, subsequently, to bring the site forward for such development.

“Until the master plan exercise is completed we won’t know for certain what uses might be identified for the site, but it has already been indicated that a food store use might be possible subject, as usual, to appropriate planning consents.

“Whatever the final uses end up being, it will certainly bring economic benefit to the area whilst also bringing a 28-hectare derelict site into beneficial use.”