A DECISION on whether to approve major plans for a Lidl supermarket, children’s nursery and medical centre in Herefordshire is set to be made next month.

The "hybrid" planning application has been submitted for land off the Dymock Road, in Ledbury.

Local residents have until January 27 to make their views known to the county council, and the authority is set to make its decision by February 19.

If approved, the supermarket would have a mono-pitched roof with projecting canopy, “based on the latest Lidl concept”.

It would offer 2175 square metres of floorspace and there would be 102 car parking spaces. Access for cars and lorries would be off “a new junction on the Dymock Road”, and there would be pedestrian and cycle access off Leadon Way “via a shared cycle footway”.

The proposed sites is close to existing new housing development, notably Hawk Rise, and the applicants, Deeley Properties Ltd and Countryside Farmers Plc, anticipate a total of 321 new homes close to the proposed food store, nursery and medical centre.

Up to 65 new jobs could be created by the development, if approved.

The application states: “The proposals will be finished to the highest quality to ensure the longevity of the scheme. The proposals look to regenerate the existing site by providing a new modern, fit for purpose supermarket, along with new, complementary uses in a positive setting to provide an attractive scheme for the local community.

“This proposal has been designed to complement the existing offer of the wider context, encouraging investment and growth to the surrounding areas.”

It adds: “Deeley Properties Ltd. seek planning permission for the erection of a medical centre, children’s day nursery and Lidl food store with associated car parking and associated development on land south of the A417 Leadon Way and east of the B4216 Dymock Road, Ledbury.

“The application site covers 1.59 hectares of grazing land, is triangular in shape. The Barratt Homes development known as ‘Hawk Rise’ lies to the south-east.

"The application is a hybrid submission - fully detailed in respect of the day nursery and food store and in outline for the medical centre. The applicants would construct the food store and medical centre.

"The children’s day nursery would be constructed by Woodlands Nursery Group; a Herefordshire based early years provider with over 35 years’ experience in the sector and two existing Ofsted ‘outstanding’ settings at Ross and Hereford.

“The delivery of the medical centre in particular addresses a long-term aspiration described at both tiers of the Development Plan for the provision of enhanced primary care provision; the existing surgeries being described as at full capacity and without the ability to expand on the existing sites.

"The children’s day nursery will likewise cater for unmet demand.”

The statement adds: “The Lidl food store offers greater breadth of choice for local residents, as well as significant job opportunities whilst ensuring the financial viability of the scheme and thus the delivery of the medical centre.

“The development will contribute significantly to the local economy during the construction phase and over its lifetime with the creation of 200 jobs during the construction phase and 65 jobs at the nursery and food store.”