Final plans for Bridgnorth’s new relief road and town centre car park have been approved, moving the long-awaited development a step closer.District councillors last night unanimously passed the proposed layout of the Whitburn Street relief road and car park at Smithfield, claiming it was “long overdue”.

They will be built as part of the extension to the town’s existing Sainsbury’s store along with a a new DIY store, garden centre and four smaller shops.

Sainsbury’s, which is behind the scheme, had altered its original design for the car park, reducing the approved 305 spaces to 289.

The supermarket has also entered a fresh application providing eight spaces on nearby land, meaning the net loss is just eight spaces.

A two-storey building at the rear of 22-25 Whitburn Street, known as Quilters Quest, which had been earmarked for demolition, will now be saved.

Last night members of the council’s planning committee said the loss of spaces was regrettable but welcomed the relief road finally being built.

Councillor Les Winwood said: “The loss of spaces is always bad new but the gains here outweigh the problems.”

Councillor Norman Cottrell said: “I’m always upset at losing any spaces but as it is only a net loss of eight it is a minor detail.”

Councillor Ed Shirley added: “We might finally get the relief road at last. The reduction in car parking spaces is unfortunate but as the Saturday market will move to the north of the site it should actually create more spaces on a Saturday, which is the problem day.

Councillor George Lee said: “This is long overdue.”