Waitrose could be open within a year after planning permission was granted.

Councillors were unanimous in giving the go ahead to a supermarket and five retail units on the former Brooks Brothers site, off The Causeway, Maldon.

The complex itself will cost £6.5million to build.

All the associated infrastructure works and highways improvements will costs £8.5m and once completed the site will be worth £16m.

Aquila development manager Michael Richards said: “This is a major step forward.

“This application has costs hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“Waitrose could be built and open within 12 months.”