PLANS to open new Lidl, Subway and Costa Coffee stores at Colchester's former Homebase site have been approved.

German supermarket giant Lidl is set to create its third store in the town off St Andrew’s Avenue, creating about 40 jobs.

As well as a large supermarket, two additional units will be created at the former DIY store site, which has been empty since 2018.

Planning permission for the new Lidl store was initially granted in 2019, despite objections being raised by the firm's rivals Asda and Tesco.

Fresh plans for the site, featuring a slightly larger supermarket and the two additional units, emerged in August last year.

Lidl wants to convert the former Homebase in St Andrews Avenue

 

Now, Colchester Council's planning officers have rubber stamped the new plan, which will see the supermarket built alongside Subway's seventh restaurant in Colchester and Costa's eighth coffee shop in the town.

The Costa Coffee unit will also have a drive-thru.

A number of conditions have been put in place including on things like the opening hours of the site and improvements to bus stops in the area.

The Lidl store will be open 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays whilst the other units can operate between 6am and 11pm each day of the week.

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Ward councillor Tim Young (Lab, Greenstead) welcomed the extra competition it would bring to the north side of the town.

Pleased - Tim Young said the development would be a good addition to this part of Colchester

Pleased - Tim Young said the development would be a good addition to this part of Colchester

He said: "I honestly do think Colchester needs another Lidl.

"Both Lidl and Aldi have shaken up the supermarket market in this country and they offer good prices and good employment practices.

"It will create new jobs and they are desperately needed at the moment.

"I think it will definitely be a popular and Subway and Costa will bring people to the site too."

He added: "The site has been empty for some time now and I think this is a positive and viable plan for it."

Once complete, the new multi-million pound supermarket will create 40 jobs with dozens more employment opportunities set to be available at Costa and Subway.

No timeframe for when the stores could open is available at this stage.