Budget supermarket Lidl has stepped in to revitalise a major new development opposite a garden centre which will also include a pub and fast food restaurant.
Scott Property Group submitted plans to Broadland District Council for the site opposite Taverham Garden Centre and Nursery, in Fir Covert Road.
The original application to Broadland District Council fell through five months ago due to a lack of 'takers' for the superstore.
But Lidl has now stepped in and is proposing to build its own.
The 23,700 sq ft supermarket - which is almost half the size of the store in the original application - will include 129 car parking spaces and could create up to 40 jobs.
The plans also seek outline permission for:
• A 35,000 sq ft lifestyle leisure unit, featuring a cooking school, outdoor clothing shop and office.
• A fast food restaurant.
• A public house or restaurant.
• An 18,460 sq ft retail unit.
Access to the site, which sits to the south of the existing garden centre, would be off Fir Covert Road.
The original plans were given the green light by Broadland councillors in 2014.
However, it was subject to a legal challenge by Norwich City Council, which argued it was not an area identified for retail growth.
Norwich said the retail use should have been kept in the city centre rather than a competing peripheral area, but councillors in Broadland voted it through unanimously.
Three years later and the land remains vacant, as the three-year deadline to start work expired in June.
Speaking at the time Mr Martin said: 'The site is still allocated for retail but the retail market has changed quite a lot since 2014,' he said.
'There aren't many takers for a superstore at the moment.'
The revised scheme has replaced the petrol filling station with a fast food restaurant.
A supporting document contained within the new application said: 'These revisions will have no material effect on the impacts/planning considerations that will need to be taken into account.'
Are you concerned about a development near you? Email luke.powell@archant.co.uk
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