The creation of a larger Nisa to replace a village's current shop and "continue to provide the best service" to the community will go ahead.
West Suffolk Council's planning meeting backed plans for the Kedington shop to be built on agricultural land next to the British Legion Hall, replacing the Nisa on Silver Street.
The new Nisa will be single-storey and measure 25 metres by 18 metres. A car park, pedestrian crossing and footway will be added to serve the shop.
The application had received 55 letters of objection citing loss of agricultural land, traffic, lack of accessibility due to the shop's move and potential anti-social behaviour among the main concerns.
Daxa Visana, applicant and owner of the Nisa with her husband Dilip Visana, told Wednesday's meeting: “We are a small, local, independent store, seeking to ensure we can continue to provide the best service possible to our local community.
“The needs of the village have dramatically changed since the shop was initially built in the 1960s.
“The existing location fails to allow us to suitably meet the challenging times ahead.
“Since starting this process, we have received an overwhelming amount of support from local residents – including 262 petition signatures in favour of our proposal and ten detailed letters of support.
“We have also received some valid letters of concern during this process, particularly around the accessibility of the site for pedestrians and the potential impact on nearby residents.
“We have taken on board these concerns and incorporated changes by creating new pedestrian linkages to enable safe access, and landscaping the shop to minimise its visual impact with a large, beautiful area of wildflowers.”
Ann Naylor, chair of Kedington Parish Council, raised that Kedington was expanding – including with 40 houses planned for Mill Road – and would have need for a larger shop.
Cllr Carol Bull said: “There are some disadvantages for some residents, but what it will offer to villagers is so much more.
“I think it is admirable that someone wants to build a new shop to serve the village.”
The officers’ report brought to the committee accepted that those living in residential properties facing the new shop would suffer a “considerable change” in view and potential disturbance.
Cllr Jason Crooks said in opposition: “This is a supermarket – it is not a village shop. It will urbanise the entrance into Kedington.
“The noise and loss to amenity lost to those living opposite will be absolutely terrible for them.
“I cannot support doing this to Kedington.”
In response to those concerned about accessibility, it was heard the shop ran a delivery service, which could help those who can’t easily reach the new site if it is continued.
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