An Ikea for Greenwich has been given the go ahead, despite a campaign against it.

Last night (March 3), a Greenwich Council board gave outline planning consent for the mammoth 33,000m sq store, which will take the place of Sainsbury's at Bugsbys Way.

Objectors had raised a string of concerns, from the amount of traffic and pollution it would create on an already busy part of the road network, to the demolition of the old Sainsbury's - dubbed a benchmark of sustainable construction when it was built 15 years ago - which is the focus of a petition and even an appeal for listed status.

Ward councillors and groups like the Charlton Society, Westcombe Society and Greenwich Conservation Group all chipped in with concerns.

But council planning officers, though admitting losing the Sainsbury's store was "unfortunate", said Ikea would improve the area's retail sector and competitiveness, there would be no adverse impact on the road network, while mitigation and monitoring would keep adverse environmental impacts "to a minimum".

Councillors on the board voted the proposals through, with only its two Conservative members refusing permission.