A GERMAN discount chain is to open a new store in Southampton creating 23 jobs.

A new Lidl is to be opened at the former H.A Fox Jaguar and Hunters Land Rover site at the junction of Bassett Avenue and Banister Road.

The store will become the fifth Lidl in the city and will be open from  7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

The news comes as city bosses approved the plans.

The main entrance to the store will be in the south-eastern corner of the building near  Banister Road and there will be 115 parking spaces.

Residents had previously raised concerns over the impact the new supermarket will have on air pollution and traffic.

Some residents also said they would prefer a smaller shop or new houses at the site.

But planning officers said the current proposal is “acceptable” and  “strikes a balance between protecting the amenities of nearby residents, the operational requirements of the store and the visual impact of the design on the street scene”.

In a report they previously said the site is not allocated for any other use and the council can “only assess the application before them”.

Electric charging points are also expected to be installed in the car park.

The plans were approved by the Planning and Right of Way Panel at Southampton City Council.

A spokesperson for Lidl said: “We could not be more delighted that our application was approved at planning committee by Southampton City Council.

"Since opening our first store in Southampton, we’ve experienced exponential growth with more customers shopping at Lidl than ever before and so, in order for us to continue providing the best possible shopping experience and service, for both new and existing customers, it has become necessary to open new stores.

"It’s our strong belief that the new store on Banister Road will be of great benefit to the area.”

As previously reported, Lidl has stores in High Street, Woolston, Shirley and Thornhill.

Lidl also opened its £55 million distribution centre in Nursling  in 2016 – creating 400 new jobs.