Go-ahead for Newport Morrisons store

Plans for a Morrisons supermarket on the outskirts of Newport have been given the green light in a move that is expected to created about 200 jobs.

Developer David Brierley had appealed against a decision by Telford & Wrekin Council to refuse planning permission to convert Mere Park Garden Centre, off the A41, into a 20,000sq ft foodstore.

The findings from a hearing held earlier this year and chaired by a national government planning inspector were made public yesterday – and overturned the council's decision.

It is unclear how the news will impact on two other applications for supermarkets in the town, one for a 50,000sq ft Sainsbury's in Station Road and another for an unnamed 30,000sq ft store in Audley Avenue.

Mr Brierley said he was delighted and that work would start as soon as possible.

"I understand Morrisons are delighted by the decision," he said.

"We live in hope that this will progress rapidly.

"I will do my upmost to ensure the store links up with the town centre as I have always done."

The garden centre will relocate to a new building that is also within the site, Mr Brierley said.

Newport Town Mayor, Councillor Roy Scammell, welcomed the decision of the planning inspector.

He said: "I think it's great news for Newport. I think this is the best of the bad bunch.

"It's not an ideal situation. Ideally we'd have a low cost supermarket in the centre of the town.

"But this one is a building which is already up, it's on a bus route and it's easily accessible."