A plan to redevelop the derelict Oriental City site into homes and shops was approved at a council meeting last night.

Brent Borough Council formally backed proposals by developer Development Securities to regenerate the seven-acre site at 399 Edgware Road, which closed in June 2008 and has fallen into disrepair.

The development, which will create more than 800 jobs, will include a new 80,000sq ft Morrisons supermarket, 183 new houses and flats and new oriental and far eastern retail and restaurant space.

Executive director at Development SecuritiesMatthew Weiner welcomed the council’s decision, adding plans had been changed since the original ones fell through because of the recession.

He said: “We are delighted Brent Council has backed our plans to transform this long-derelict site into a vibrant new mixed-use scheme.

“Our plans will deliver significant benefits for the local area and bring new investment into the borough, creating more than 800 new jobs and enhancing local shopping choice.

“We have adapted our plans to ensure the regeneration is both deliverable and generates major benefits for the local area. With Morrisons fully committed to the site in a pre-let of the foodstore, we have the all-important catalyst in place to be able to start the build this year.”

The plans are now being referred to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

If he approves them, developers expect to start building this September, open the Morrisons supermarket and oriental and far eastern foodcourt by early 2015 and complete the first houses and flats by 2016.