Tesco aims to finally start work on a Bovingdon store development - four years after it was granted planning permission.

The supermarket chain won planning permission for a store and eight flats on the corner of High Street and Chesham Road in 2010 despite widespread opposition from villagers.

Planning permission ran out at the end of February last year and the supermarket giant successfully applied to Dacorum Borough Council for more time to create the express store.

It now says it intends to start work in the spring.

Glenn Povey, chairman of Bovingdon Parish Council said: "Whilst it was regrettable the Planning Inspectorate approved the development of the site against the overwhelming objection of the villagers, Parish Council and the Borough Council, to leave it in a state of decay has also been a blight on the village.

“The fear of course being that the site would be land-banked and remain in that state for years to come. The decision was made, it is irreversible, so the sensible thing is for Tesco to just get on with it - which of course they are now doing."

In 2009 original plans to transform the former car showroom and garage were unanimously rejected by villagers, traders and the borough council because the store did not keep with the appearance of the village and would cause traffic problems. However, a year later, planning inspector Roger Pritchard approved the plans on the basis Tesco would increase vitality and viability of Bovingdon as a shopping destination.

The extension should be signed off by Dacorum Borough Council once a Section 106 agreement has been settled - which defines how much Tesco will pay towards local amenities such as schools, roads and parks - and a two year limit to implement the scheme is agreed.

A spokesman for Tesco said: "Subject to all the normal approvals we are hoping to start on site in the Spring."

When asked what the holdup in the development has been, the spokesman said: "It is just a case of working through the normal approvals. Sometimes it takes a little while."