Plans to build more than 1,000 homes on the site of a supermarket have been given the green light by councillors.

A 28-storey tower block at the site of the Sainsbury's store in Hyde Estate Road, Colindale, has been approved by Barnet Council’s planning committee.

If the scheme is given the go-ahead by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, it will be joined by ten more blocks rising higher than ten storeys, as well as a smaller, four-storey building and a new supermarket.

The huge project, designed by developer St George and Sainsbury's supermarkets, is set to provide 1,309 homes – a third of which will be classed as affordable.

Councillors granted permission at a meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday (January 14) – despite receiving more than 880 objections and just 13 letters of support from members of the public.

Those opposed to the scheme warned of the high density of the flats, overshadowing, traffic problems and the potential impact on local facilities such as schools and doctors’ surgeries.

Objecting to the scheme, Cllr Gill Sargeant (Labour, Colindale), told the meeting: “I have been a councillor for many years here, and I have never had so many objections.

“There are nearly 900 habitable rooms per hectare in this area. This is going to have a huge effect for residents of Edgware and West Hendon as they see this area. It is going to be extremely dense.

“I can see residents of Edgware, as they drive along here, being absolutely furious because there is no new transport.

“There is a small amount given for buses, but there are no new train stations.”

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Under questioning from committee members, Cllr Sargeant warned there were no plans for new schools or doctors’ surgeries.

She also said half of the affordable homes would be for shared ownership, when “what is needed is affordable rent and living rent”.

But Greg Tillotson, planning director at St George, said the development would provide “a brand new Sainsburys store, much-needed new housing, alongside good-quality landscaping and a public park, creating a fantastic new destination to be shared by the local community”.

He added: “The GLA [Greater London Authority] is fully supportive of the proposed height and density. The development is of a high design quality.

“Thirty-five per cent by habitable room will be affordable, provided across a range of tenures to benefit a variety of incomes – London Affordable Rent, shared ownership, London Living Rent and intermediate rent.

“Of the 101 London Affordable Rent homes, 55 per cent will be three-bed family homes.”

Mr Tillotson also pointed out the scheme would provide £16 million for the council that could be spent on infrastructure projects, including education and health facilities.

Planning officers said the scheme would benefit the ecology of the nearby Silk Stream waterway, and the £16 million could be used to reduce the development’s impact on local infrastructure.

Seven members of the committee voted in favour of the development, with five voting against.

As an application of strategic importance to London, it will now be referred to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who can approve or refuse the scheme.