SUPERMARKET giant Asda has been given permission to build a £15m new store in Bishop Auckland - despite fears from other traders that the development will kill the town's traditional retail centre.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, as environment secretary, announced the decision today following a two-week public inquiry in February.
The firm has pledged to create 180 extra jobs and pump £2m into refurbishing Bishop Auckland's Newgate Centre, where it says it has outgrown its existing store.
Bishop Auckland is also in line for a £1million cash injection from the Government's sixth round of SRB funding announced last week.
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