SUPERMARKET giant Asda will be coming to Basingstoke after plans to build the £25 million store in Brighton Hill were given the go ahead.

For the last three years, the future of the vacant Robert Grieg's store in Brighton Hill shopping parade has been uncertain.

The centre, seen as the focal point of Brighton Hill, has suffered a loss of trade as shoppers headed elsewhere in the town.

But a new era is on the horizon after Basingstoke council's development control panel gave Proudreed and Asda Stores Ltd permission to demolish the existing vacant supermarket, council maintenance depot and public house and construct a retail superstore with associated provision for access, serving, parking and land- scaping.

The 68,900 ft (6,045 sq metre) store, set to be completed in autumn 2002, will be larger than the present supermarket and will have 24-hour opening.

The store will also create 400 new jobs.

At the meeting, Cllr Carl Reader said: "It's great news for the community."

A major concern was raised by councillor Gerry Traynor over the impact the new store would have on the South Ham precinct in Kings Road and other shops in the area.

Other concerns were raised over traffic management, disabled parking, public toilets, lorry delivery times and abandoned trolleys which will be dealt with in the conditions of granting the application.

The new store will feature 377 car parking spaces compared with the current 248 spaces.

A transport assessment into the potential traffic impact on local roads and Brighton Hill roundabout said the effect of the store would be minimal.

Developers have agreed to make financial contributions totalling £986,000 towards traffic management and other measures in the area.

Of that money £886,000 is to be spent on establishing a shopping zone in the immediate area of the store to reduce vehicle speeds and give priority to pedestrians.

Other changes include filling in the subways under Quilter Road and Brighton Way, installing a toucan crossing, mini roundabouts and other measures.

The borough council helped the developers with the extra space they needed for the store by selling three of its plots of land on the site for £225,000.

Developers are also set to replace the existing play area adjoining the store with a new facility within the park after the public have been consulted.

Work to demolish the existing store and adjoining public house is expected to start in September/October with construction starting in Spring 2002.