A SUPERMARKET has won its controversial appeal to create a town’s biggest shop.

Sainsbury’s has been granted permission to carry out an £18m expansion to its shop in Victoria Road, Darlington, after a public inquiry, despite opposition from senior councillors, town centre traders and residents.

The supermarket said that the plans, which include a mezzanine-level restaurant, petrol station and a decked car park, will create 120 jobs.

The shop will be refurbished and vehicle access improved, and its range of nonfood products, including clothes and homewares, will be expanded.

Planning inspector Harold Stephens ruled the proposals, which would almost double the supermarket’s retail space, would not affect the long-awaited Oval shopping centre development in Commercial Street, which he believed would be inevitably downsized.

His report said: “The proposals would have positive impacts on the town centre by bringing an increased amount of trip linkage between the Sainsbury’s store and town centre by reason of the greater number of customers that would come to the Sainsbury’s store.

“The proposal would lead to more customer choice, better quality of provision and encourage competition.

“It would deliver additional jobs, thus contributing to economic development and social inclusion.”

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, who represents the nearby Park East ward, said residents, town centre traders and the council had lost a “David and Goliath” fight against the might of the national chain.

She said: “The virtually limitless financial resources at Sainsbury’s disposal meant it was going to be an unfair fight from the beginning. They even threatened they would be back with yet another planning application should the appeal not go their way. This is their strategy up and down the country.

“Time will tell whether the nearly doubling of the Victoria Road Sainsbury’s store will be detrimental to the vitality of Darlington town centre.

“I believed the evidence against the granting of the appeal to be incontrovertible.

Sadly, the inspector did not agree.”

John Coxon, chairman of Darlington Town Centre Traders’ Association, said he was disappointed.

He added: “I think our members will be concerned about this. It is yet another pressure on the town centre.

There is not a never-ending supply (of trade).

“The more out-of-town pressure which comes on the town centre, the less vibrant the town centre will be.”

Darlington Borough Council leader Bill Dixon said the council would seek to work with Sainsbury’s to maximise the benefits to town centre businesses.

He said: “It is going to be a difficult situation, but we will have to manage. We will make the best of it and help the local traders as much as we can.”

Christian Wakelin, from Sainsbury’s, said the company had been pleased by the support it had received from the community and said work would begin soon. He added: “This is great news for Sainsbury’s and for Darlington.”