Salisbury Asda approved by Wiltshire Council despite objections

The plans provide a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain

Plans for an ASDA supermarket to built on green space in Salisbury are a step closer, despite objections from more than 70 people.

Wiltshire Council has given planning permission, subject to consultation with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The plans include a petrol station and drive-through coffee outlet near the Hampton Park roundabout on London Road.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the application on Wednesday.

'Increased traffic'

The plans were re-submitted after they were turned down almost two years ago by Salisbury City Council for environmental reasons.

The development sparked controversy among local residents, with more than 70 people objecting to the plans when they were first proposed and 64 supporting them, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Concerns included worries about increased traffic in the area, the impact on nearby wildlife and the potential for flooding.

Supermarket retailer and rival Tesco had also objected, saying it would have an "unacceptable retail impact on the city centre" if approved.

The application is now subject to a judicial review.

'An opportunity'

Asda said that the proposed planning site for the new store is "currently underutilised" and the proposed development "looks to maximise potential benefits for the local community and economy".

The planning application stated: "The site provides an opportunity to create a local food store for the north of Salisbury and the residential areas of Bishopdown and Hampton Park - Riverdown Park which will be of direct benefit to the communities it surrounds, while providing increased choice and competition for the existing Aldi, Tesco and Waitrose stores elsewhere in Salisbury."

At a meeting to consider the proposals, the Strategic Planning Committee at Wiltshire Council noted that the majority of correspondence it had received from residents had been positive.

It will now go before the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, who will give a final decision.