A decision is yet to be made on whether supermarket giant Sainsbury’s can build a store on the Island.

Swale council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead to the £25m proposals by Citygrove Securities in January to build on the former HBC Engineering site in Power Station Road, Halfway.

But because the development is for more than 5,000 square metres of retail space and not within a town centre or on land allocated for such use, the decision had to be referred to Communities and Local Government minister Eric Pickles.

That is normal procedure, but the council was later notified that Mr Pickles has issued an order which prevents it taking any official decision until he has had more time to consider it.

Citygrove boss Andrew Rennie said he understands that the holding notice has been issued following a request for Mr Pickles to call in the decision for a public inquiry.

Out of 145 out-of-town retail developments since the election, Mr Pickles has called in one.

If it does go to a public inquiry it will be a lengthy process.

Mr Rennie said: “This has slowed things up unfortunately. We would love to take it forward and we are looking to get the food store built.”

It is unclear how long it will be before a decision is announced.