Aldi has been given the green light to open a new store on a disused site in Enfield.

Councillors approved the discount retailer’s plans to convert the former Homebase store in Station Road, Southgate, into two separate premises.

Aldi will move into one of the units, while the other will become home to a new B&M outlet.

The application was given a warm welcome by local councillors at a meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday.

Cllr Anne Brown (Labour, Southgate Green) said: “There is no similar facility within easy reach of the homes in the immediate vicinity of the site, and the range of products to be offered would be very welcome to local residents – and in many cases, it will avoid the need for lengthy journeys by car or public transport to obtain day-to-day items.

“I understand there are no zero-hours contracts and a minimum of London Living Wage – also a huge benefit to the area.”

Cllr Daniel Anderson (Community First, Southgate Green) said the scheme would be an “absolute benefit” to an area that has large health inequalities.

“This will offer an array of opportunities for the local community to shop locally,” he added. “It will create significant local jobs – they are going to invest up to £3 million in the local area – and as Cllr Brown has said, no zero-hour contracts and they are going to pay the London Living Wage.”

The plans were unanimously approved on a temporary basis, as the site – which forms part of the New Southgate Masterplan – is expected to undergo large-scale residential development in the next five to seven years.