Supermarket giant Sainsbury's looks set to come to the Island after receiving councillors' backing.

Swale council's planning committee gave the thumbs up to the £25 million store and petrol station at a meeting last night (Thursday).

It will be built on the former HBC Engineering site in Power Station Road, Halfway.

The application was delegated to officers to approve subject to certain conditions including a contribution to improve the bus service.

It also needs to be referred to the Secretary of State as the proposal is for more than 5,000 square metres of retail space and is not within a town centre or on land allocated for retail use.

A Swale council spokesman said it will take between four and six weeks for a final decision to be issued.

There has been some opposition to the plan by developer Citygrove Securities due to fears about increased volumes of traffic.

But it was approved by a majority of 15-2.

For the full story, see next week's Sheerness Times Guardian.