TESCO is eager to get on with building the extension to its Saffron Walden store after getting the nod from councillors.

Speaking straight after Thursday’s meeting corporate affairs manager Michael Kissman said: “We are delighted by the decision which will give greater choice and range for shoppers in Saffron Walden. It is also great news for the staff who came along [to the meeting].

“Customers have been telling us for some time to invest in the store.

“We already employ 200 people, predominantly from the local area, and this decision will allow us to create another 100 jobs.”

Councillors have slapped a number of conditions on the application that Tesco must meet, including paying �75,000 towards the highways improvement works at the Elizabeth Way/Radwinter Road traffic lights.

Tesco will also pay �180,000 towards the investigation and implementation of improvement measures at the Air Quality Management Area location of Thaxted Road/Radwinter Road/East Street/Chaters Hill, as well as another �3000 for monitoring the Travel Plan.

“We now have to look into the conditions and work with the council to bring it forward,” said Mr Kissman.

“We want to get it build for customers and the team as soon as possible. It is a complicated project but we will review the conditions and see what [timeframe] is realistic. The sooner we can improve it, the better.”