A MASSIVE new supermarket has been given the go-ahead by councillors who dismissed fears of overdevelopment and traffic congestion.

The three-floor Tesco store planned for Greenford Broadway will be built into the slope from Greenford Road, the site of their existing shop, to Oldfield Lane South. Entrances at each end will be joined by one in Ruislip Road in the Broadway.

It will provide 5,510 sq metres of shopping space, compared to the current 2,340, 150 new jobs and 374 car parking spaces over two levels, although it will be built over the current council-owned car park, which already provided 142 spaces.

The development also includes a cafe and independent shops and preserves the façade of the old cinema.

It is hoped the new store will entice more shoppers to Greenford Broadway who are currently put off by the lack of shops and parking. Councillors voted unanimously to approve the proposals at Wednesday night's planning meeting.

But James Darbon, of Oldfield Lane South, said the store would dominate the area, taking away trade from existing businesses, and added: "How many people parking on the roof of Tesco will bother to go shopping elsewhere?

"The extra vehicular activity in Oldfield Lane South will create more congestion in an already congested road."

Council officers said traffic flow models showed the increase would not be as bad as feared, increasing in Oldfield Lane South by a maximum of 10 per cent at peak times. They said roadworks paid for by the scheme would

mitigate this, and lorries would not be allowed to enter or exit from the north of the site.

Council leader Jason Stacey pointed out most businesses were supportive, even those in direct competition, but he was concerned about the narrow entrance on the Broadway. Plans to widen it were scuppered after Tesco failed to buy Greggs, and Mr Stacey insisted on measures to separate drivers and pedestrians at that entrance.

Tesco spokesman James Wiggam said the parking spaces would be free, regardless of whether motorists used them to visit Tesco, and said he was delighted with the result.

He added: "Our proposals complement the Council's Good for Greenford project helping to create a more business and shopper-friendly environment."