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A giant supermarket is set to be built at the entrance to Medway City Estate.
Councillors overturned planning officers and decided to support Sainsbury's plan to create a superstore on the estate, in Strood.
The shop could now be open within two years and the development will include a park and ride scheme and major road improvements.
As revealed in Monday's Medway Messenger, council planning officers said the development would harm Chatham and Strood shopping centres.
But Medway council's planning committee, welcoming the £9 million investment and around 500 jobs, voted in favour on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Tesco has submitted plans for massive expansion of its Strood store.