THE new Lidl supermarket under construction is Chard is set to be open by the end of this year, the German supermarket giant has confirmed.

Plans to build the new store opposite the town’s current Tesco were given the green light in August 2018.

The Brecknell Willis factory buildings were pulled down in the winter and the team has been at work completing the foundations.

The building is being carried out by Jessops Construction.

Darren Chiumento, site manager, said: “Works on site are progressing well, our project team have now completed the piling and foundations of the new Lidl store.

“Noticeable above ground changes will be taking place over the coming weeks when we will be erecting the steel frame and commencing the building’s external envelope.

“We expect to achieve practical completion for our client at the end of July, when Lidl will then begin their internal fit-out.”

A spokesman for Lidl added: “We expect the building and car park to be built by July. Following fit-out, we plan to open before the end of the year.”

The new store will create up to 40 new jobs, with staff from the existing Lidl store on Boden Street being transferred across.

The new site is also set to have enough parking for 114 vehicles.

The German retail giant applied for planning permission in September 2017 to demolish existing industrial units on Tapstone Road to make room for a new larger store for the town.

When plans were approved, Lidl said that the site would be taken over by a “non-food retailer” who has “had an interest in Chard for some time.”

The demolition will also allow Brecknell Willis to increase employee parking at the site to 119 spaces.