Primark is to double the size of its city centre store.

The business will move from its existing outlet in Brighton's Western Road to the home of the former Littlewoods store, between Crown Street and Marlborough Street.

Brighton and Hove City Council yesterday granted planning permission for Primark to extend the old Littlewoods shop to the rear on the second and third floors to allow extra stockroom and staff space.

Neighbours in Crown Street opposed the application, saying deliveries by 18-tonne lorries into the delivery access next to their homes would have a "catastrophic effect".

But the planning subcommittee voted to allow the extension to go ahead, provided there are just two lorry deliveries a day in Crown Street, between 8am and 8pm. Deliveries will not be allowed on Sundays or bank holidays.

At other times, the store will be able to accept deliveries from the loading bays in Western Road, which most shops on the street use to receive goods.

David Roberts, who lives in Crown Street, said he was dismayed by the decision.

He said: "This will have a serious effect on our quality of life. Crown Street is a narrow cul-de-sac. Residents couldn't be in a closer proximity to this delivery point."

He said vast lorries delivering on a residential street with pedestrians and parked cars was an "accident waiting to happen".

Councillor Delia Forester said: "If you look at Western Road, it is very run down and most retail organisations have moved to Churchill Square.

"We have to be very careful because Primark has a potential for regenerating Western Road instead of just pound shops and mobile phone stores.

"If you live slap bang in the middle of Brighton, until we have some control over the size of lorries coming into the city, then deliveries are what you have to put up with."

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