A SUPERMARKET giant has applied for a licence ahead of opening a new store in Southampton.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Lidl will open a new store in Victoria Road, Woolston, after the city council's planning panel unanimously approved it earlier this year.

The new store will replace the empty Co-op building and will create 40 new jobs.

It is scheduled to open by the end of the year, and the number of car parking spaces at the site will be extended from 82 to 115.

Some residents had raised fears about the number of protected trees that would need to be felled for the new building to be built.

But the supermarket has agreed to plant 24 new trees to replace the eight that will be cut down.

Now, ahead of the store opening later this year, the firm has applied to the city council for a licence.

If approved, the new store will be open from 7am to 11pm, seven days a week.

A licence to sell alcohol would be in place for the same hours.

Consultation on the new licence has been launched, and will run until July 26, with a final decision due after that date.

The opening of the new store will be a boost to residents in Woolston who are currently frustrated by a lack of supermarket options.

Morrisons announced earlier this year that it was pulling out of plans to build a major new store in Centenary Quay.