Dr Philip Lee made the comment following the news from Cllr Michael Gbadebo that Morrison's Local had agreed to open a shop on the site.

Dr Lee said: “It’s great news that the shop at Jennett’s Park has received approval and the contracts have been signed.

"Jennett’s Park is a fantastic local community and I am pleased to see that local economic growth and a great effort by residents, councillors and campaigners alike, has resulted in the installation of a community shop.” Cllr Gbadebo had been pressuring developers to make good on their promises of a local store for three years, and was finally able to announce the news earlier this week.

He praised the residents who had supported his fight and in particular those who had signed the petition he organised earlier in the year.

“Signing the petition was very important because it showed the developers that every email reminder and every pressure I applied was backed by the people in the area, who would be using the shop,” he said.

He also revealed the role the council had played, adding, “Residents were promised a shop and should not have had to wait this long or go through this much pain to get it. I had a meeting with council officers a few months ago about a lot of things on Jennett's Park, how we as a council must do better and what lessons we can learn to ensure that developers do deliver on their obligations with all future developments."

It is hoped that work will start on the building shortly and Cllr Gbadebo will update the original petition page (http://mygh.co.uk/jpshops) with news of the build as it progresses.