It will create between 200 and 300 full and part-time jobs.

Although councillors approved the multi-million pound plan by Bradford-based supermarket company Morrisons in September, they had to refer the matter to the Scottish Executive because the local authority will profit from the sale of the land, previously the site of Linlathen High School, off Forfar Road.

It is believed the council could earn as much as £6 million from the sale of the land.

Although they have not yet revealed the agreed sale figure, it will be in the council’s list of capital receipts during next year’s budget process.

The money will be used to offset the cost of public-private partnership schemes elsewhere in the city, such as the one that paid for the new St John’s High School building.

Although the Scottish Executive can take months to reach a decision, they agreed to the Morrisons plan in just a few weeks.

They wrote to Dundee City Council last month giving their consent for the new supermarket to be built and work to prepare the site has already started.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said, “A letter was sent out on October 27 that said Scottish ministers had no intention to intervene.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman confirmed the Executive had given consent “several weeks ago.” Dundee City Council’s development committee voted 19 to two in favour of the plan when it was put before them in September.

As well as the superstore, the development includes plans for a petrol station, car parking, landscaping and road accesses to the site on Forfar Road.

Construction of the supermarket should be completed quickly.

A spokeswoman for the supermarket company said, “We anticipate work will be finished by next summer.”