WORKS to demolish and rebuild a branch of Lidl in Somerset are well under way.
The Wells branch of Lidl closed on Saturday, March 30 ahead of plans to demolish the existing store in order to build a newer, larger branch.
A tall perimeter fence with signs which read 'Demolition in progress: Keep out' now wraps around the entirety of the site on Strawberry Way.
What was once a busy supermarket currently only partially remains, as the building has been completely gutted, with large parts of its external structure removed.
A huge pile of rubble in which fragments of Lidl branding can be seen lies in the existing car park, along with two diggers, and a temporary office building.
The large Lidl sign which once stood tall at the entrance to the supermarket on Strawberry Way has been taken down.
The new store, set to open in February 2025, will be built on the existing land, in addition to adjoining land left behind by the now demolished Travis Perkins outlet near the Strawberry Way roundabout.
A total of 46 extra parking spaces will be created on site, with three disabled spaces and an additional 12 motorcycle spaces, as well as electric vehicle charging points.
Lidl stated the new store will create up to ten jobs, though the majority of these will be part-time.
Solar panels will adorn the roof of the new store, but will be adopted on a simple framework so that panels are fixed as close and flat to the roof as possible, to minimise visual intrusion whilst maximising the amount of energy generated.
On the former store's last day in business on Saturday, March 30, almost every item on the shelves had been reduced, with many left completely empty, including the meat section.
The infamous 'middle aisle' of the supermarket which stocks miscellaneous household items, had been removed, and neatly stacked crates and boxes could be seen around the building.
It was a somewhat sombre atmosphere inside, and leaflets were being handed to customers with vouchers for the nearest Lidl branch, in Street.
For more information on plans for the new store, search reference 2022/0273/FUL on Somerset Council's online planning portal.
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