An approved plan for a 34-metre high development including a Morrisons supermarket and 250 flats has been slammed by a councillor who voted against the proposal.

The council’s planning committee last night gave the green light to the scheme, which would see one of the largest city centre Morrisons built in South Grove, Walthamstow.

Labour councillors Peter Barnett, Karen Bellamy and Jenny Gray voted in favour, as well as Liberal Democrat councillor Elizabeth Phillips, while Conservative councillors Jemma Hemsted and Alan Siggers voted against.

Residents living nearby had previously spoken out against the proposal, saying it was inappropriate for the location and would take customers away from struggling nearby traders.

Following the approval, councillor Hemsted said: “Whilst we would agree that this site needs regeneration it needs to be done in the right way so as not to impose misery on the existing and future residents."

She described the design as "ugly and overbearing"  and raised concerns that no environmental impact assessment had taken place.

She also said no safeguards exist relating to Morrisons’ claim that local people would be employed at the supermarket and she feared it would have a negative impact on nearby businesses and the market. 

The supermarket giant said the development will create 450 jobs and that typically it employs 75 per cent of staff from local communities.

The council are expected to issue a statement later today.