250 jobs on way at new Whitchurch Sainsbury's

A new Sainsbury's supermarket creating 250 jobs is set to be built in Shropshire after the scheme cleared its final hurdle.

Government planners today said they do not intend to 'call-in' the application for the new store in Whitchurch. The project had already received planning permission from Shropshire Council and has now been rubber-stamped by central government.

Council officials have received a letter from the Department of Communities and Local Government saying Secretary of State Eric Pickles does not need to review the planning application.

Simon Alton, spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: "We are now finalising the details of the legal agreement and the decision will then be released."

Backers of the scheme off London Road say it will encourage more people to visit the town centre, revitalise that end of the town and improve the choice of shopping.

But those opposing it say it will hit trade for other town centre shops and lead to an increase in traffic.

Sainsbury's bosses says as well as bringing jobs, the store will increase shopping competition in the town.

Construction is expected to begin by next summer, with the store opening in 2013.

As a condition of the planning approval, the company must provide a financial contribution of almost £500,000 towards town centre improvements under a legal agreement with Shropshire Council.

Plans by Tesco to create a superstore on Edgeley Park and develop a smaller metro store on its existing site at White Lion Meadow have also been submitted to the council.