Councillors yesterday approved an application to build an Asda superstore on the southern outskirts of Inverness - the place dubbed Tesco town because of the dominance of one supermarket chain.

Councillors yesterday approved an application to build an Asda superstore on the southern outskirts of Inverness - the place dubbed Tesco town because of the dominance of one supermarket chain.

It will be the first Asda store in the Highlands, the nearest being along the A96 in Elgin.

But it must first be approved by ministers because councillors on the local planning committee ignored the local plan and advice from planning officials. They had recommended refusal on the grounds of planning policy, the proposed scale of the store and road congestion.

Now there is speculation that Tesco might try to launch a legal challenge because last year it was refused planning permission for a fourth store in the Highland capital for reasons similar to those overruled by councillors yesterday.

But a spokesman for Tesco said last night: "We will have to study the details of this very closely before making any comment."

Tesco has already lost an appeal to ministers, so the next move would be to seek a judicial review of the apparently inconsistent decision making.

Yesterday's outline planning application came from Elphinstone Land Ltd/Asda Stores for the development of a superstore, petrol filling station, five small retail units and associated works on land at Slackbuie Farm, Inverness.

The advice to the committee yesterday was that the proposed scale of the Asda superstore was "not seen as commensurate with local needs".

It also highlighted that the proposed Asda superstore would lead to unacceptable congestion, particularly at Inshes roundabout and links with the A9.

But there has been local demand for a company to compete with Tesco which is estimated to receive 51p of every £1 spent on food in Inverness.

Michael Gibson yesterday represented the five community councils closest to the Asda site.

He left the committee in no doubt as to local sentiment on the issue.

"We have waited a long time for Asda and look forward to competition and choice," he said.

"We are tired of Tesco dominating the shopping scene."

Meanwhile, Tesco has lodged a planning application for a town-centre store in Tain.