Supermarket plan for site where fast food refused

The entrance to the proposed Lidl site in Ross-on-Wye

Plans for a new discount supermarket for a Herefordshire town are back on – where a proposed new McDonald's was previously refused.

Lidl has submitted a "request for EIA (environmental impact assessment) screening opinion" to Herefordshire Council regarding land at the A40 / A449 Over Ross roundabout in Ross-on-Wye.

An EIA screening opinion is often the first stage of larger planning applications.

Little information has been published so far, other than a site map indicating road access would be off Starling Road.

McDonald's previously applied to develop this site, using similar access, but this was refused by councillors in July 2023.

The fast food chain's application proved highly divisive locally, with 450 public submissions backing it and nearly 400 opposing it.

Lidl also previously tried to build a store in Ross-on-Wye, at Wolf Business Park, but this was refused and then dismissed at a planning appeal on 2021.

Its public consultation website for that proposal is still live.

Comments are not being accepted on its new application, which the council intends to decide on by the end of October. A full planning application would then follow.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.