STORE wars have broken out over plans for a new shop in Colchester.

Supermarket giant Asda has urged Colchester Council to refuse plans for Lidl to open a new store two miles away.

Lidl wants to open at the old Homebase, in St Andrew’s Avenue, Colchester, opposite Waitrose, and has submitted a planning application to convert the store.

But Asda bosses have objected claiming it could draw customers away.

Asda said it believes there is not sufficient information for Colchester Council to rule if the new store would have an adverse impact on the viability of the town centre.

Under planning guidelines Lidl does not need to provide a full impact assessment.

But Asda claims there are “potentially significant implications” to the bid.

It said: “The council need to be content they are approving a certain level of food retail floorspace in units which could ultimately be occupied by any retailers.

“In addition to the attractiveness to retailers, the scheme will also draw shoppers away from existing centres which will impact on the level of associated linked trips to other services and facilities in the centres.

“The full impact of this proposal can only be considered through the submission of the full, detailed impact assessment.”

READ MORE: Lidl submits plans for new store at former Homebase

READ MORE: Work set to finally start on new Hythe Sainsbury’s in May

The letter added: “The application suggests Lidl’s trading philosophies differ from traditional supermarket by selling from a limited core range of mainly exclusive own labels.

“However, whilst this may have been the original philosophy of the deep discounter it is evident there has been a slow but steady change towards that of a traditional supermarket.”

The Lidl bid is for external alterations and dividing the building into two units. It has not revealed who could move into the smaller unit.

It also includes a change of use to allow food retail and landscaping and a 180-space car park.

The multi-million pound investment will create up to 40 jobs.