Discount supermarket chain Lidl has announced it plans to resubmit its application to build a new store on the outskirts of Lampeter.

The plans, which received widespread support from the local community, were rejected by planning officers at Carmarthenshire County Council in July, who said a new supermarket would 'have detrimental consequences for the vitality, viability and retail function of Lampeter town centre'.

At the time, Lidl said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ by the decision and has this week launched a pre-application consultation with the view of resubmitting the application.

Papers published online by Carney Sweeney on behalf of Lidl state that ‘we consider officers erred in the weighing up of important material considerations of need in the planning balance,’ when refusing the plans in July.

In its retail statement, the supermarket adds: "Lidl has carefully reviewed the reason for refusal together with the comments received during the determination of the previous application.

“Accordingly, the proposal has been refined to ensure that planning officers’ original concerns with the proposal are fully addressed and to allow Carmarthenshire Council to consider the salient matters afresh.

“The proposed development will not result in a significant adverse impact on existing, committed or planned in-centre investment, allocated sites, or the vitality and viability of nearby centres, with particular regard to Lampeter.

“The updated evidence demonstrates that the town centre is vital, viable and diverse; that its principal foodstore is strongly overtrading and resilient to competition, with no evidence of vulnerability.”

In his decision notice refusing the plans in July, Rhodri Griffiths, Head of Place and Sustainability at Carmarthenshire council said: "The economic benefits of the proposal, including job creation, investment and increased retail choice, are not considered sufficient to outweigh the identified conflict with retail and town centre planning policy, the likely harmful impact on the role and function of Lampeter as a key service centre, the lack of a strong qualitative need for the proposal and a quantitative need case which is heavily reliance upon the trading performance of a single existing store in Lampeter Town Centre."

Reacting to the refusal during the summer, Rhydian Griffiths, Regional Head of Property, Lidl GB said: "We are extremely disappointed that our planning application for a new store serving Cwmann and Lampeter was refused under the planning officer’s delegated powers.

“Given the significant level of community interest in our plans, we firmly believe this major application should have been referred to the Planning Committee for a decision made by elected councillors.

“We want to thank everybody who participated in the community consultation and the many local people who supported our plans.”

Ceredigion County Council objected to the plans, saying the application was ‘unjustified’, in the wrong location and if a supermarket should be built, it should be in Lampeter.

But the council also said Lampeter has two supermarkets already and doesn’t need another.

The two existing supermarkets in Lampeter, the Co-operative and Sainsbury’s also objected to the plans, saying there is no need for another supermarket in the area.

The plans were however widely supported by the local community, with a previous consultation showing 91 per cent support.