A supermarket which was opposed by hundreds of residents is to open after a planning inspector rubbished councillors’ reasons to reject it.

Sainsbury’s put forward plans to convert the former Caffyns garage in Preston Road, Brighton, into two retail units after it bought the site in 2009.

But the plans for its tenth store in the city were thrown out by Brighton and Hove City Council when members of its planning committee went against their own experts’ advice last April.

Opposition

The scheme had been opposed by hundreds of residents.

But Sainsbury’s was last night told it could open the store after the Planning Inspectorate ruled the council was wrong to try to stop it.

It means the city council, which opposed the plans on transport issues and the damage it would cause to existing businesses, now faces a bill for legal costs, which could come to tens of thousands of pounds.

But last night a council spokeswoman said she expected the costs would be “minimal”.

Transport cabinet member Ian Davey said it was “disappointing”, adding the decision risked “undermining local democracy”.

Coun Davey said: “Councillors were concerned that it would have a detrimental impact upon other local shops in the area.

“Even the inspector said that Sainsbury’s arguments that it wouldn't were not convincing and that the possibility of them having to close down cannot be discounted.

“I only hope that isn't the case and that the existing local stores can survive."

The firm’s plans for the site were first knocked back in October 2010.

Mark Rush, regional acquisitions manager for Sainsbury’s, said: “We are delighted that our appeal has been upheld."

 http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9457478.Sainsbury_s_store_win_brings_council_bill/