Shoppers in Royston and the surrounding villages are a step closer to having two new supermarkets to choose from after planning permission was granted last week.

At North Herts District Council’s planning control committee meeting on Thursday, members voted to grant planning permission for an Aldi supermarket and an M&S Foodhall at the Royston site between York Way and the A505.

However, the decision is pending contribution from the developer to provide an enhanced bus service to and from the new site.

Councillor David Barnard, chairman of NHDC’s planning control committee, said: “The proposal for the Royston Gateway offers significant benefits for the residents of Royston and the users of its industrial area.

“Not only does it represent a significant investment for Royston, it is a diversified retail offering which is well supported by Royston Town Council and the residents of Royston.”

An M&S spokeswoman told the Crow: “We continue to have an interest in developing our food offering in Royston, subject to full planning approval. We hope to share an update with the community soon.”

And an Aldi spokeswoman said: “A planning application for a new Aldi store in Royston has been submitted and, if granted consent, it will bring more shopping choice to the town and create up to 50 new jobs. We will keep the local community updated as the application progresses.”

The 30-acre site was given planning permission for a food store in 2014 part of the multi-million pound Royston Gateway project – with a Waitrose originally proposed to be built on the land.

However the plans folded with the high-end supermarket saying back in May that changes in the economic market were their reason for pulling out.

The M&S and Aldi stores would share 170 parking bays, including 10 spaces for Blue Badge holders, and the medium-sized M&S Foodhall would also incorporate a customer café.

Supporting documents in the proposal stated that the foodstores will help to meet the needs of the town and provide greater choice and competition in the local market, as well as catering for customers who are currently travelling from further afield.

The planning application also included provision of a new junction for the A505 and a new link road to Orchard Road Industrial Estate.