PLANS by Transloyd Developments to build a Tesco Express convenience shop and car park on a former petrol station site in London Road, Southborough, have been approved on appeal.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council had refused consent on road safety grounds and concerns about the impact on local homes.

But after a two day inquiry in March, planning inspector Simon Emerson has overturned the council's decision and ruled that the scheme will be permitted, subject to conditions.

They include opening hours and delivery times limited to 6am to 11pm daily; no deliveries direct from the public highway; no development until steps are taken to deal with possible contamination and various other restrictions, some of which are intended to minimise noise.

Mr Emerson said there was no evidence the store - with a retail floorspace of 323 square metres - would undermine the viability of existing shops.

The Southborough store, with a 17 space customer car park, would be the first Tesco Express not to be combined with a petrol filling station.