Newport Sainsbury's bid backed

Plans for a Sainsbury's store in Newport creating about 400 jobs are being recommended for approval, it was revealed this afternoon.

The proposal for the 50,000sq ft store in Station Road will go before Telford & Wrekin Council planning chiefs next Wednesday.

If given the go-ahead, Sainbury's will have to pay nearly £2 million towards improvements in the town.

More than 450 letters of objection have been submitted. Waitrose and the Co-op, which have stores in Newport, also raised concerns.

But Telford & Wrekin officers say the planning authority is satisfied 'the proposal will not lead to significant adverse impacts on the viability and vitality of Newport town centre'.