PLANS for a new discount supermarket in Southampton have moved a step forward.

German discount chain Lidl has submitted a new application to Southampton City Council (SCC) to demolish the former H.A Fox Jaguar and Hunters Land Rover site at the junction of The Avenue and Banister Road. 

The news comes after last summer the supermarket giant applied to build a new store at the site and another one on Brownhill Way – next to its £55 million regional distribution centre in Nursling.

No date has been set for when the three plans will be seen by city councillors – leaving a timescale for the stores up in the air.

But a number of residents have sent letters to the council to voice their views over the plans. 

Many of them said they welcome new Lidl stores in Brownhill Way and Banister Road but raised concerns over the impact they will have on infrastructure and traffic.

One of the residents’ letters reads: “Banister Road and The Avenue are already congested at peak times, so this will simply be exacerbated.

“Night time noise from deliveries may be an issue for Forest View (a NHS hospice).

“A smaller supermarket with some residential provision would be more suitable in this position.”

Last year, Lidl confirmed that it took on board resident’s views before proposals were submitted. 

If given the go-ahead, the new stores are expected to create up to 80 new jobs.

According to the plans, the store in Banister Road will have a 1,323m² shopping area and 129 parking spaces. 

Meanwhile, a single storey store and 158 parking spaces could be created at the site in  Brownhill Way with access from Frogmore Lane via a new spur road. 

A spokesman for Lidl said both stores would have in-store bakery, customer toilet and parking for both cars and bicycles.

He said the firm is hopeful that the Banister Road application will go before councillors in the next couple of months, but was unable to share any such timescales for a decision on the Brownhill Way proposal.

If approved, these will be Lidl’s fifth and sixth shops in the city, with stores already in High Street, Woolston, Shirley and Thornhill.

Lidl also opened its £55 million distribution centre in Nursling  in 2016 – creating 400 new jobs.

In December, plans by rival chain Aldi to build a store on part of the East Point Centre complex in Thornhill were rejected by the city council.