Legal proceedings launched by Sainsbury's in an attempt to stop a £100m development from being built in South Ruislip have been blocked by the High Court.

The supermarket giant had applied for a judicial review of the process through which planning permission was given for the proposed Arla development, which would include a rival Asda store.

But the High Court has now refused the application, ruling that Hillingdon Council followed proper proceedures.

Sid Jackson, vice chair of the South Ruislip Residents' Association, said: "We're delighted with the decision but not surprised, because we believe everything was conducted in the right manner.

"We hope Sainsbury's will see this and now withdraw from it and let us get on with our lives."

Sainsbury's now has the right to request a verbal hearing with the judge to discuss the issues further, but has not yet decided whether to do so.

A spokesman said: "We are waiting for the judge’s full written report so that we can review and consider our next steps.”

Delays

The plans, which are expected to create more than 530 jobs, involve building a 40,000sq ft Asda supermarket, a cinema complex, five restaurants, 14 houses and 118 flats at the derelict former dairy site in Victoria Road.

Work had been scheduled to begin in March, but has been delayed by the legal proceedings.

Andrew Rennie, managing director of Citygrove Securities Ltd, the firm behind the plans, said that if Sainsbury's eventually appealed the court's decision, this would cause a further two-month delay, even if the judicial review application was again refused.

Citygrove has previously estimated that a judicial review could delay the project by up to a year and cost the council upwards of £200,000.

Mr Rennie said: “We are delighted that the judge has refused permission. It is the first stage and hopefully the last stage.

“We certainly feel that the judge's reasoning was short, succinct and quite robust. It is obviously up to Sainsbury's what happens next.”

He added: “I would hope that Sainsbury's will appreciate that their actions have no prospect of success. Sainsbury's have already delayed the commencement of works by a couple of months, and should now let Hillingdon decide what is best for South Ruislip.”

Sainsbury’s has had permission to double the size of its existing supermarket, in nearby Long Drive, since 2006, but has not done so.

The company hopes to receive further permission to build a new store on the same site for while work is being carried out.