B&NES Council are claiming an historic opportunity to improve the economic vitality of Midsomer Norton's centre as it prepares to sell the South Road Car Park to a developer to build a brand new 45,000 square foot supermarket. The existing Sainsbury's at The Hollies is 17,000 square feet.

The Council claims that a store of this size will encourage more people into the town to do their shopping – the decision has been met with support from the Town Council. The development will increase the opportunities for existing businesses on the High Street and encourage private investment to support the regeneration of sites in and around the town centre.

Cllr Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities, said: "Supporting the vitality of Midsomer Norton High Street is one of the Council's priorities as we seek to encourage projects that will promote new investment, jobs and opportunities for local people in their communities.

"Releasing South Road Car Park for a supermarket will help increase footfall on the High Street as residents and visitors to the town are offered more choice in their weekly food shop. The development will also connect the High Street with South Road much more strongly and give the opportunity for the Council to progress our wider regeneration plans."

Cllr Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said, "This is a proposal that the Town Council warmly welcomes. Our High Street needs a significant boost and a larger supermarket will provide more people coming to the town, which in turn will lead to opportunities for both new and future businesses. There are still details to be resolved, particularly in respect of parking, and the Town Council will play its full part in these."

As part of the planning process, the Council will require additional parking spaces above the supermarket operator's own needs. Based upon national trends for in-town supermarket proposals, the numbers of spaces should be at least 281 – this compares to the existing 241 spaces. This parking would be located underneath the store. Access is likely to be via travelator and lifts.

The matter of whether the car park will remain free would be entirely at the discretion of the operators – although the trend is for in-town supermarkets to offer customer parking for around two hours.

The proposal is in line with the Council's draft Core Strategy and national planning policy which contains a preference for in-town supermarkets.

In February 2013 – Council will start marketing the site and hopes by Summer 2013 to have a preferred bidder. By Autumn 2014 – subject to planning permission being granted, development of the new store could commence with opening sometime in 2016.

The move will give B&NES planners amunition with which to resist out-of-town developments.