SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has been given the go-ahead to increase the shop floor of one of its new stores by half in a nail-biting decision.

A group of councillors was split down the middle over whether permission should be granted for the yet-to-be-built store at Orpington to have a mezzanine floor at a meeting on Tuesday night.

Tesco was given planning permission in September 2005 to build a shop with 4,000 sq m of retail space, but later applied for the extra room to sell non-food items. The additional space will add another almost 2,000 sq m to its sales area.

The dead heat in Bromley's development control committee was broken by chairman Cllr Gordon Jenkins, who said he had to follow the advice of council planners after two hours of animated discussion.

He said: "I reluctantly disregard what is in my heart in favour of the professional advice I have received, so my casting vote is for approval."

His decision was greeted with booing from the public gallery, with one man shouting: "It is absolutely disgusting."

Orpington residents and businesses who object to the extension claim it will lead to more traffic and a loss in trade.

Demolition of an existing multi-storey car park at the future Tesco site, in Earls Way, is almost complete. Building work is due to start shortly.

* FOR THE FULL STORY AND REACTION SEE NEXT WEEK'S BROMLEY EXTRA.