German international discount supermarket chain Lidl wants to build a new store "at the earliest opportunity” in Devon.
The retailer has submitted plans to Torbay Council to build a third Lidl store in Paignton. If approved, the store development would see the provision of a new junction off Kings Ash Road, which would enable future residential development, in line with Torbay's Local Plan for the wider site.
Lidl said the multi-million-pound investment will see them commit to building a sustainable store with plans to create about 40 new full-time and part-time jobs.
The supermarket will include an in-store bakery and customer toilets, 145 car parking spaces, including six disabled bays, nine parent-and-child spaces and two electric vehicle parking spaces, alongside ample parking for bicycles.
The single-level building would have solar panels on the roof with landscaping to minimise its impact on the area, plans reveal.
Lidl GB's regional head of property Matthias Daly said: "We are extremely excited about the prospect of opening Lidl's third store in Paignton and better serving the community of north Paignton with fresh, quality and incredibly good value produce which shoppers across the country have come to love. Our plans are set to create around 40 new positions which would be fantastic for the local community."
A statement with the application from agents One Design Architectural Services, on behalf of the retailer, said: "Lidl regards the application site as ideally suited to meet its requirement for a new discount store to better serve the local community.
"Given Lidl's commitment to invest in Paignton, the proposed development will, if consented, be constructed at the earliest opportunity and will add to Paignton's retail offering, and provide the local centre proposed in the Local Plan.
"The proposal will build out a consented signalised junction into the Great Parks allocation that will serve for access to potential future residential developments."
A decision is expected to be made after the consultation period, which ends on Wednesday, November 11. Paignton already has Lidl stores in the Victoria Shopping Centre and at White Rock Way. There are also stores at St Marychurch Road and Newton Road in nearby Torquay. Lidl has a presence in 29 countries, mostly in Europe. It employs 315,000 people and has a net income of 1.287billion euros.
