SALISBURY is to get another new supermarket after plans for an Asda store on London Road, Bishopdown, were given the green light.

The new 24-hour store will include a cycling cut-through from Green Lane which was demanded by residents to provide a green shopping experience.

Officers found that there was no city centre location available for the supermarket.

After discussions with residents the plans, which received support from Salisbury City Council, were reduced slightly in size.

Wiltshire Council said the application was needed as the Tesco Extra, Waitrose and the city centre Sainsbury’s are all trading above benchmark levels.

Judi Scholey from Asda said: “The Asda store will bring many benefits to Salisbury. "There will be 200 new jobs for local people as well as jobs during the construction stage. These are for people across from all skills range that will benefit from Asda’s training programme.

“This project will bring more competition and choice at a price people can afford.”

They also hope by diverting customers away from Tesco it could help alleviate traffic problems on Southampton Road.

Cllr Fred Westmoreland spoke of how he joined Salisbury District Council in 1991 when a development was first proposed on the site and that the north side of the city needed “more retail space”.

As part of legal agreements for the supermarket ASDA have agreed to contribute £350,000 to improve the bus services running towards the site.

The decision at the Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday received unanimous support.

Plans for an Aldi store in London Road were approved in February.