APPLAUSE erupted at a planning meeting after councillors backed proposals for a new supermarket.

A Lidl store will replace the vacant Co-op building in Victoria Road, Woolston, Southampton, following last night’s unanimous decision.

The new two-storey store will create 40 jobs.

Extra parking spaces would also be built, increasing the 82 spaces to 115.

Speaking at the city council planning meeting, Cllr Warwick Payne, cabinet member for housing and sustainability and a Woolston ward councillor, said: “I cannot remember an application that has triggered this amount of support.

“Lidl really likes Woolston and Woolston really likes Lidl so please members, bring us together.”

Concerns had been raised over the amount of protected trees that would need to be cut down for the new building to be constructed and the plans were shelved at one point.

But planners agreed to plant 24 trees as part of the new build, to replace the eight that will need to be felled.

The developers said at the meeting that they hoped the new Lidl will be up and running by Christmas.