The plan, initially knocked back last year, would see a Coles and Aldi built together with 140 apartments near the Dickson shops, but the government has accepted a revised proposal with "a string of conditions" in an effort to ease community push back.

Jane Goffman and Paul Costigan from the Dickson Residents Group were extremely disappointed by the approved plans that they said had "all the same warts as before but with slightly different clothing".

They welcomed a reduction in the number of loading docks blighting the Antill Street frontage, as well as the addition of a window for each bedroom in the apartments.

But the two said these were the sole improvements applied from an exhaustive refusal issued in May last year and that the proposal remained poorly developed, a detriment to local businesses, and evidence that the Environment and Planning Directorate succumbed to pressure by Coles and the Doma Group.

"It confirms fears that we no longer have a frank and fearless professional public service capable of negotiating effectively with powerful development industry figures, or a planning minister who understands the basics of planning," they said.

Valerie Kivshar, owner of the Dickson florist Florever, welcomed news that a loss of 237 carparks would be offset by the addition of about 150 new parks, but remained concerned about competition from the franchises.

"By having Aldi and Coles down the end with Woolworths, people will go in that direction instead of down here," she said.

"It is of course not the government's job to give us customers but it is a joint effort, and the big supermarkets are always taking business away from florists with the wholesale price a third cheaper."

Other concerns held by local businesses and residents included the removal of trees, the dated and uninspiring design, traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, and the negative effect on Dickson pool.

But fears held by co-owner of the Dickson Newsagency Andrew Nuttall "were always about parking" and he was pleased that all workers would park away from the area during construction.

"If that happens that is fantastic," he said.

"The city won't grow unless we are prepared to take a little bit of pain for long-term growth and I think it will be great for Dickson in the long run."

Owner of Jhay the Cobbler Locksmiths, Jason Mann, somewhat agreed.

Though still unimpressed by the building complex which critics previously called "clinical" and "a monolithic lump", he thought the Dickson Traders worked well with the EPD to blacklist the main shopping centre carparks for construction workers.

"I think the building could be better than what it is, but in the last couple of months I have been focused on better managing the construction period," Mr Mann said.

"We knew this was coming, so now it is just about moving forward."

Construction will take about 25 months, although it is not yet clear when work will begin.