PLANS to build a large supermarket in the centre of a Hampshire village have taken a giant leap forward.

Civic chiefs have approved proposals to sell a councilowned car park to discount giant Lidl, which wants to redevelop part of the site and create up to 40 jobs.

Members of New Forest District Council’s ruling Cabinet heard that the sale would result in a £2million windfall for the authority.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Lidl’s plan to build a 2,000 square metre store on the car park at St John’s Street, Hythe, would result in the loss of 60 parking spaces. The other 100 bays would continue to be available to all motorists.

If the scheme goes ahead PC Builders, which occupies a neighbouring site, will move to a larger site on the Hardley Industrial Estate.

Hythe and Dibden Parish Council has carried out a public consultation exercise on the future of the car park.

It received 1,864 responses, with 63 per cent of those surveyed saying they backed plans to build a Lidl supermarket on the site.

But the council’s vice-chairman Maureen McLean cited “huge concerns” over the loss of parking spaces and urged the district council to postpone the sale until the full impact of the scheme on the community could be assessed.

District councillor David Harrison described the report presented to members as “woefully inadequate”.

He said: “We don’t know what the annual income is from the car park. I’m wondering if selling this asset for £2million is a good deal or not.”

But Cabinet members supported the proposed sale.

Vice-chairman Edward Heron said while he was reluctant to lose parking spaces it was an opportunity to bring another major retailer to the town.