SUPERMARKET giant Lidl is to launch a bid for a third new store in Southampton.

The German retailer is targeting a greenfield site on Brownhill Way – just metres from its regional distribution centre.

It is the third set of plans lodged by Lidl for new stores in Southampton in under a year.

The discount supermarket chain revealed plans for a new store on Banister Road earlier this year.

Lidl is also set to relaunch its plans for a branch off Shirley High Street, after its previous plans were thrown out by councillors in March.

The company say the new “multimillion-pound” store is part of a £1.45bn national investment scheme.

Lidl UK’s regional head of property, James Mitchell, said: “We are extremely excited about the prospect of opening a Lidl on Brownhill Way and serving our fresh, quality and incredibly good value produce which shoppers across the country have come to love.”

Ahead of submitting a formal application, the company will host a consultation event at Nursling and Rownhams Village Hall between 10am and 7pm on Thursday, May 17.

Residents will be able to look at the plans and quiz Lidl bosses over the new plans.

But the company has been accused of not giving residents enough notice over the consultation.

Lee Whitbread, a councillor for Redbridge on Southampton City Council, said: “I’d like to have seen them given more notice and I hope they will look to do another event in the future.”

His comments were echoed by councillor Alison Finlay, Test Valley Borough Council ward member for Chilworth Nursling and Rownhams – which borders the site.

She said: “Unfortunately I can’t go along, but I would have been able to if I had a bit more notice.”

It is the second time Lidl has been criticised for giving short notice over consultations for a new store in Southampton.

The discount retailer were accused of giving just two days’ notice during the launch of its plans for a new store in Banister Road, near to the Avenue.

On that occasion, the company said snow from the Beast from the East had disrupted the arrival of letters.

The supermarket giant is yet to lodge official plans for a store on the Banister Road site, currently home to car dealership Inchcape Jaguar Land Rover.

The dealership is set to move to a new premises on Wide Lane.

Meanwhile, Lidl has restarted its bid for a new store in Shirley.

The company’s previous plans to build on land, formerly occupied by Shirley Police Station, were thrown out over the potential impact on neighbouring residents.

But Lidl’s new plans include turning the bulk of the building away from neighbouring residents – one of the major concerns raised during the planning meeting.

With the addition of Banister Road and Brownhill Road, Lidl will have six stores in Southampton, as well its £55 million distribution centre, also on Brownhill Road, which opened in 2016.