Twenty new jobs are to be created in Sittingbourne.

Tesco’s planning application to make the former Cherry Tree pub in Canterbury Road into an Express store has been approved.

It means the supermarket giant can now go ahead with its proposal to demolish the extension, build a single storey extension, install plant equipment at the back and carry out alterations including a new shopfront.

The company also wants to change the use of the upper floors to residential, comprising one two bedroom flat and one three bedroom flat plus a roof garden and alterations to the car park.

Former owners Enterprise Inns closed the venue on August 9 last year “to decide its future”.