A new Aldi store at Plympton has been approved after councillors were told its impact on local shops would be acceptable.
Plymouth City Council’s planning committee voted narrowly in favour of the scheme for the over-flow car park at Chaplins in Galileo Close.
Councillors heard that it would take trade from other shops including the Iceland and Co-op at the Ridgeway shopping centre in Plympton.
But planning officers and the council’s advisers considered the diversion of business to the new Aldi would not cause major damage to local centres.
The planning committee voted 7-6 in favour at a meeting on Thursday afternoon.
The Co-op objected to the application, arguing it would harm the viability of local stores including its branch at the Ridgeway centre.
Planning consultant Katie Priest said on behalf of the Co-op that the council had a policy to protect district shopping centres and should refuse the Aldi scheme.
Planning consultant David Williams said on behalf of Aldi that the new branch would bring choice for local shoppers and keep spin-off trade in the area with minimal impact on local centres.
Labour’s Darren Winter said the new Aldi was a welcome investment on a brownfield site which would create jobs and bring more local choice for shoppers.
Councillors were told that estimates showed that the loss of trade would not be enough to “undermine the role and function” of the Ridgeway centre.
A report said the network of local shops including at Chaddlewood, Colebrook and Stone Barton would lose business but not to the point where the impact would be “significantly adverse”.
Planning officer Alistair Wagstaff said new studies showed enough parking at the development with 118 spaces for Aldi and 75 in an upgraded car park for Chaplins.
Aldi had also produced new information on the traffic impact which would be acceptable after upgrades to local roads.
Conditions for the scheme include installing a roundabout at the junction of Galileo Close and Strode Road.
Aldi has agreed to give £80,000 towards the Eastern Corridor Improvement Scheme which is due to start in the autumn upgrading junctions on Plymouth Road.
Other conditions include the developer funding consultation into the need for double yellow lines on Galileo Close and a restricted access bollard and sign at one entrance to Torbridge Road, which will not be used for store access.
The application was recommended for approval after being deferred in March.
