CHRISTCHURCH council has approved plans to expand part of a supermarket.

Sainsbury's at Somerford applied to the council's planning department to enlarge their service yard and alter the car park and access road.

They also want to include a new biomass boiler and larger Groceries Online van dock.

A planning report from the council says the proposal is effectively a re-submission of a previously consented development.

The proposed biomass boiler would project one metre above the surrounding wall and the chimney would rise to a height of approximately 11.22m.

The report said: "Although this would exceed the height of the main store building it would be lower than the roof of the highest part of the store.

"Given the limited visibility of the boiler above the wall and slim profile of the chimney it is considered that the proposal would not result in any significant visual harm to the character of the area."

The proposal would result in the loss of 11 car parking spaces.