PLANS for Sainsbury’s fourth store in Colchester have been given the green light.

The supermarket giant have been given planning permission by Colchester Council to convert the B&Q store on Lightship Way.

As part of the conditions of the permission Sainsbury’s must spend more than £700,000 on highways improvements including upgrading the Greenstead roundabout and new pedestrian and cycle links.

They must also subsidise the 61 bus route for three years and spend money on upgrading CCTV in the surrounding area.

The supermarket will create 450 jobs, with 80 employees currently in work at B&Q likely to be offered jobs at the new store.

Sainsbury’s currently has a huge superstore in Stanway, a town centre supermarket in Priory Walk and a Local store in Layer Road and had submitted plans for the new shop two years ago.

Rival supermarket Tesco, which has a store on nearby Greenstead Road, had objected to the plans but committee member Peter Chillingworth said competition would be healthy for residents.

He said: “I welcome a head-to-head with two giants across the road from each other.

"I think it is quite legitimate to support this."

Councillors voted by 11-1 in favour of the plans, with just Liberal Democrat member Jo Hayes voting against.

Sainsbury’s planning manager Caroline Hewitt said it was unusual to see no members of the public objecting to the proposal at the planning meeting on Thursday.

She said: “The proposals are supported by local people, to have no people speaking against is unusual for Sainsbury's.

“The jobs on offer will range from entry level to management.”

Ward councillor for St Andrew’s Tim Young said he and his colleagues cautiously welcome the plans despite some concerns over the level of traffic.

He said: “We have to weigh the positives with the traffic congestion issues.

"It would be great if the jobs committed to the living wage because that would give them advantages over other supermarkets.

"I think competition is good for customers. Having this down the road from Tesco should be a good thing.

"Traffic volume is the highest negative issue -it is very congested, almost gridlocked at certain points of the day.”

The 73,000 sq ft store is scheduled to open next year.