Plans for a new Tesco superstore in Hadleigh have been rejected by the narrowest of margins.

At a packed planning meeting of Babergh District Council, councillors voted by 7 votes to 6 against the proposal for the former Brett Works.

The bid was refused because “it would cause substantial harm to the High Street and the local economy, resulting in an adverse effect on the sustainability and viability of Hadleigh.”

The group Hands Off Hadleigh and the local chamber of commerce had commissioned expert studies to highlight the possible impact the store could have on the town’s traffic system and its economy.

And last week, Hadleigh Chamber of Commerce polled members about the impact the new supermarket could have on their businesses. Seven traders, including a café, butcher and print shop, said they would definitely be forced to close if the application went through. A further seven – among them the town’s post office, a second butcher’s shop and a tile business – said they would “probably” close.

Although Babergh planning chiefs had recommended the application for approval, in the report that was central to today’s discussion, the council’s own economic development officers warned a new supermarket in Hadleigh could have a “negative” impact on the town’s High Street trade.