TESCO and Asda's superstore plans could sneak through the planning process because a council regeneration document is being delayed until after the election, residents fear.

Planners have “actively discouraged” the supermarket giants' ambitions for large scale developments on land they own on the former gas works off Albert Road and between East Barnet Road and Victoria Road until the New Barnet Town Centre Framework is finalised, it emerged last night.

But a delay in its publication - originally expected in the summer – mean that now it unlikely to be approved before next year's council elections, leading to continued uncertainty for residents and businesses.

Speaking at a last night's Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Sub-committee resident John Dix of the Save New Barnet Campaign said: “New Barnet is dying on its feet as the uncertainty generated by the lack of a town centre strategy prevents any further investment in the area.”

He said he had been told by three separate people that the strategy had actually been completed and was being kept from the public and urged scrutiny councillors to call the officers to account and set a deadline for its publication.

He added that by the time the strategy was put before cabinet “election fever will have set in and this report will disappear”.

He added: “I am worried that this report has been kicked into the long grass with the aim of minimising public debate.

“The Town Centre Strategy will be critical to any future planning applications and in particular to any subsequent planning appeals.”

Fellow campaigner David Howard said he thought the council wanted to make it easier for the supermarkets as people would prefer any development to derelict land.

Resident Karen Miller of Fordham Road said: “It's so long and drawn out the council could get caught out and rush things through,” she said. David Tinsley rents a flat on land now owned by Asda and said he was angry at the delay.

“I want to know where I'm going to be living next year and if I'm going to be rehoused or out on the streets.”

Councillors also expressed frustration at the delay at the meeting in Hendon Town Hall in The Burroughs but only asked to see it completed before March next year.

Cllr Barry Rawlings said: The danger is that it won't happen for another nine or ten months during that time planning applications will come in.

“Is that a true risk that not having a strategy may fetter a committee in what it can look at in a planning point of view?”

Head of planning and housing, Lucy Shomali admitted an incomplete framework would not carry as much weight in planning terms than one finalised by councillors.

She said previous planning applications by the supermarkets had delayed the framework.

“It's not moving as quickly as we would've hoped. It's one of the town centres with some of the most complicated issues to resolve.”

But she said staff had wanted to get the issues right and said council-appointed property consultants GVA Grimley had contacted Save New Barnet campaigners to invite them to get involved.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Dix said his group had received no such request from the company.