A COUNCILLOR who disagreed "in his heart" approved a supermarket's planning application after professional advice.

Bromley Council's development control committee met to discuss Tesco's plans to increase the sales area of its planned Orpington store.

The supermarket giant was granted planning permission in September 2005 to build a 8,004sq m shop on the site of the former multistorey car park in Earls Way.

This application included 3,917sq m of retail space.

The company put in an application for a mezzanine floor in March last year - which would effectively create another level on which to sell products.

This floor was going to cover the entire store area but was reduced by 50 per cent after concerns raised by councillors about traffic.

At Tuesday's meeting a motion to refuse Tesco's plan to add the mezzanine floor was tied with seven votes for and seven votes against, with one abstention at Bromley Council's development control committee meeting.

Councillor Gordon Jenkins used his casting vote as chairman to reject the motion.

The committee was also unable to agree on a motion to approve permission with seven votes for and seven votes against, with one abstention.

Speaking after he had used his casting vote to approve this motion, Cllr Jenkins said: "Much as I disagree in my heart, the professional advice that I have received is for approval."

Bromley Council officers and staff from the Greater London Authority and Transport for London had studied the application to increase the shop's size to assess the effect it would have on traffic and other businesses.

They found no reason to refuse planning permission.

The supermarket on the site of the former multistorey car park in Earls Way will be 10,730sq m with a sales area of 5,900sq m.