A town supermarket is to be demolished and then rebuilt – so it can provide a 'better service to customers'.

Discount retailer Lidl has traded near the North Quay Retail Park, in Peto Way, Lowestoft for the past 11 years.

Waveney District Council's planning committee was told the supermarket giant had 'proposed to demolish the existing shop and start again, with a store which isn't a great deal bigger'.

However, councillors at Tuesday's meeting heard the store would have a better layout, with improved access for deliveries and some additional floor space in the store.

About 14 car parking spaces will be lost as a result of the expansion, leaving 110 in total – although there will be new bicycle and motorcycle spaces, as well as landscaping to determine the boundary of the supermarket area.

Members of the committee voted unanimously to approve the bid, with Ian Graham saying there were 'no planning grounds to refuse this'.

Vice-chairman Paul Ashdown added: 'I think they know what they're doing – they have proved it is very successful now and it is going to get better.'

In submitting the proposals to Waveney, the design and access statement says: 'As part of Lidl's commitment to both maintain the quality and environment of its stores and maintain availability of products to its customers, Lidl is undertaking a programme of improvements to stores across the country.

'At Lowestoft, the opportunity to enlarge and refurbish the existing store has been examined in detail, and the conclusion has been reached that complete replacement would be the best way forward. This application is therefore for a new larger building replacing the existing one.'

A council report prepared ahead of the committee meeting said: 'This proposal merely redevelops the site with the same type of retail outlet as before but on a slightly larger scale.'

It said therefore the 'impact on the town centre is unlikely to be significant', adding: 'The limited range of products also means that the proposed store will have less impact on the town centre than a normal supermarket.'

Do you have a story about a business expansion? Email business editor mark.shields@archant.co.uk