Lidl has submitted revised plans to build a new supermarket on the eastern edge of Bath, reigniting debate over a previously withdrawn proposal for the same site.

Controversial plans to build a Lidl store on a field off London Road on the eastern edge of the city were withdrawn by the budget supermarket chain last July. The company said at the time that it was committed to opening a store in the city and would submit an improved application once it had carried out highways surveys and other work.

Now, new plans for a store in the same place have been submitted. Lidl said the plans had been designed to mitigate any impact on traffic on London Road, which had been a key concern about the previous proposal.

Glen Stidever, Lidl’s regional head of property, said: “This store has been a major focus for our team, and we have worked tirelessly to ensure that it not only meets the growing demand for affordable, high-quality grocery products but also fits seamlessly into the local environment, resulting in the best experience possible for both local residents and our customers.

“Through extensive consultation and careful planning, we have revised our proposals in key areas such as design, traffic management, and landscaping to create a store that is truly befitting of the location and safe and accessible for all. We believe this revised plan will provide even greater benefits for the local community, and we look forward to receiving further feedback as we move towards the planning determination later this year.”

The new plans for a Bath Lidl
The new plans for a Bath Lidl (John Wimperis)

The new Lidl would create up to 40 jobs. As well as “significant updates” to traffic management, new landscaping has been included and an updated retail assessment which Lidl said confirmed that it would not have a significant negative impact on nearby shopping areas.

Currently, the only budget supermarket in Bath is the existing Lidl on the Lower Bristol Road on the far side of town. The company said being able to drive to a closer supermarket on London Road was predicted to reduce customer’s mileage by 29 per cent, helping to reduce 82 tonnes of carbon a year.

A statement from Lidl said: “The store has been thoughtfully designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, with a focus on the use of Bath stone and natural timber cladding. To further integrate with the landscape, the store will feature a living green roof alongside solar panels, contributing to both Lidl ‘s and the local authority’s sustainability goals.”

The original plan faced a protest when the plans were unveiled. One member of the public discussing his conflicting feelings at the consultation said the site on which the supermarket would be built had become an “inadvertent nature reserve.” In total, 1,194 people lodged objections to the plans on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning portal. 402 people lodged comments in support.