Plans for 29 flats in a block up to four storeys next to a supermarket have been given the green light.

Harrow Council’s planning committee unanimously approved an application for new homes at the site of Tesco Express, in Kenton Lane, Harrow, just off Belmont Circle.

The scheme will be split into three parts, with commercial space on the ground floor next to Tesco topped by three floors housing 26 flats.

A smaller, two-storey building will be built behind these flats and for the remaining three flats.

Cllr Stephen Greek praised the proposals, noting that they have been well-thought out to cater for the area’s needs.

He said: “I’m very pleasantly surprised with this development. There’s always the temptation on sites like this to cram in as much as possible.

“But I think this is a very appropriate use of the land and it’s an amount of housing the area can take.”

He added he was pleased with the high level of parking – there will be 30 spaces at the site – in an area that can be “very constrained”.

Planning officers noted that there were no objections raised during the consultation period and there were no negative responses from neighbouring properties.

The applicant will also have to adhere to a section 106 agreement including a carbon offset payment of almost £44,000.

There will be just three ‘affordable’ homes as part of the development, which is lower than the figure outlined in the council’s usual planning policies.

However, following a viability assessment put forward by the applicant, which was independently verified, officers and councillors agreed that the smaller number was acceptable.