Shoppers in Woodley will soon be able to pick up groceries at M&S Simply Food after plans to build a new store were given the green light.

The high street chain applied to build a new shop on the site of a derelict Volvo dealership at Shepherd’s Hill roundabout on the A4.

Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee heard the plans received support from people living in the area and both Woodley and Earley Town councils.

Committee member Councillor John Kaiser said: “I welcome the development. My only concern, as I have used the dealership, is that it was always a problem getting in and out of the site.”

Cllr Tim Holton added: “I’m concerned as M&S is going to have free car parking and in Woodley you have to pay. A lot of the smaller shops rely on the footfall going into Woodley town centre and I think it is going to affect a lot of shops, not necessarily selling the same things.”

Agent Keith Redshaw, of Lateral Property Group, said the new store is intended for ‘top up’ shopping.

The store will have 92 parking spaces and is estimated to have a turnover of around £7.4 million. An assessment revealed trade at Waitrose in Woodley is most likely to be affected by the new store, followed by M&S at the petrol station opposite in London Road.

The committee gave the plans unanimous approval during the meeting on Wednesday, November 14.

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