Discount supermarket giant Lidl has won planning permission to build its second store in St Neots.

The retailer submitted revised plans to Huntingdonshire District Council back in September for a brand new 2,000sq m store on the former St Neots Motor Company site, in Great North Road, Eaton Socon.

The new superstore will come complete with 78 parking spaces and will add to the company’s existing branch, in Cambridge Street.

In its submission to the district council, agents acting for Lidl said: “The granting of planning permission for the erection of a new Lidl foodstore would increase the retail offer and boost the local economy.

“The new foodstore would create employment opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, providing opportunities for training and career development. This in turn will create an upward spiral of economic benefits.

“Widening the retail offer will also help to maximise expenditure within St Neots whilst increasing the viability of local businesses within the local area.”

The company said that it would be looking to employ up to 40 new full and part-time members of staff to run the store.

“In addition, there may also be opportunities for temporary and indirect employment as a result of the proposals. The opportunity may exist to recruit local labour during the construction of the store, thus providing further short term employment opportunities,” the company added.

The news comes just weeks after fierce rival Aldi announced that it had exchanged contracts for the sale of land at the junction of Great North Road and Howard Road, a few hundred yards away from the Lidl site.

Construction work on the new Lidl supermarket is “progressing”, according to the company.