ASDA has been granted permission to make additions to its Whinbush Way supermarket site in Darlington.

Darlington Borough Council's planning committee gave the green light for the company to add extra warehouse storage provision, create a home shopping van loading area in the service yard and a canopy for customer Click and Collect bays near the car park.

Nearby neighbours had objected to the scheme amid fears over increased noise coming from the site and a warehouse extension looking unsightly.

In recommending the application for approval the council’s planning officer Dave Coates said: “In the recommendations there is a requirement for them [Asda] to submit a noise assessment prior to that work starting to assess the potential for noise, and if there is, suggest suitable remedies.”

He acknowledged that the site had given nearby residents cause for complaint about ongoing noise generated by the supermarket workings such as air conditioning units.

But he said that Asda had “got it right in the end” after working with the council’s environmental teams.