Plans to attach a Waitrose superstore onto Van Hage garden centre at Great Amwell have been approved after a sensational U-turn from East Herts District Council (EHDC).

The district council's planning officers had recommended the proposal for refusal, as had Hertford and Ware town councils, despite support from Great Amwell Parish Council.

Waitrose's niche, loyal customer base was cited as suitable reason to waiver from EHDC's policy of rejecting out-of-town supermarkets.

The supermarkets' announcement that it intended to leave Hertford town centre was also a contributing factor in their decision.

Traffic concerns and impact on the green belt were deemed as insufficient reason to block the plan.

A spokesperson behind Hertford's Bircherley Green shopping centre redevelopment claimed their withdrawal will have a £15million hit on the town centre.

Opinion was split among councillors at a development management committee on March 25 but opinion fell slightly in favour of the proposal.

There had been threats that the Bircherley Green project would be put on hold indefinitely if the proposal was granted.