TESCO managers are to decide when a store creating 300 jobs will open after a public inquiry was decided in its favour.

Bosses are to resume talks with Stoke-on-Trent City Council in the next three weeks for the first time since their proposals for a Hanley store met opposition four years ago.

The news follows government inspectors announcing their decision to uphold a compulsory purchase order of Clough Street after a public inquiry in March.

The order brings into public ownership land needed for Tesco to move from New Hall Street to Clough Street and a 540-metre extension to the Potteries Way ring road.

Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "It has been a number of years since we have discussed the development with council officials.

"We all need to sit around the table again to make sure that we are in the same place.

"This is likely to happen in the next three weeks after which I will be in more of a position to say when the store will be built."

The city council and Tesco have been working together to create a new superstore, petrol station and link road for several years.

Under an agreement with the city council, Tesco will pay for a section of a new link road which will, ultimately, form a complete Potteries Way ring road

Tesco received planning permission for the new store in 2005 and has spent £640,000 preparing the site. But the new store had been delayed by a public inquiry in 2005 and another in March this year.

The compulsory purchase order has just been upheld on 14 small parcels of land totalling 1.1 acre off Clough Street.

Pat Field, owner of furniture shop Rockermans, in Clough Street, said he was pleased the development could finally begin. But he added he was worried about access to his business during construction work.

He said: "We have been told they will keep Clough Street open the whole time, but only time will tell if that actually happens.

"We just want the development to be built now. We're one of the few traders still down here at the moment and we miss the passing traffic."

Richard Potts, sales manager of Vauxhall motor dealership Greenhous, in Clough Street said he was glad the problems had finally been resolved.

He said: "The development will help us dramatically because at the moment, we are marooned between two pieces of land.

"Ever since I have been working here there has been talk of a new Tesco being built but it has never happened.

"At the moment is a big lump of land and it is a mess.

"We are quite resilient as we are a big area Vauxhall dealer, but businesses have been closing all around. Hopefully now the firm has finally been given the go-ahead, the development will breathe new life into the area."

Brian Ward, cabinet member for regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "The start of work will redevelop land that is currently unused and help to kick start regeneration of the city centre."