First look at planned Lidl supermarket

Here is a first glimpse of the cut-price supermarket which could become reality in an upmarket Wolverhampton suburb within months.

Lidl has unveiled an artist's impression of the new store it is hoping to create in Finchfield.

Proposals for the budget store giant on the former Castlecroft Garage site were set to be granted by planning chiefs this afternoon, despite protests from angry residents. Protesters have already managed to fight off bids by heavyweights Waitrose and Marks & Spencer to set up stores on the land in Finchfield Hill.

Plans for a housing development also fizzled out due to stiff opposition from locals. Lidl's first application to transform the site with a discount store was thrown out last year due to its poor architectural design.

But after going back to the drawing board, the revived plans have been recommended for approval at a meeting of Wolverhampton City Council's planning committee.

These pictures show how the 790sq m store would transform the land if given the green light to be built on the former car showroom.

Lidl spokesman Matt King said today: "We are very pleased with the recommendation. "After the plans were refused last time we sat down with the council and held months of talks to come up with a scheme that they want. It looks like now we have and so we are looking forward to a decision."

The plans have outraged some residents, who bombarded council chiefs with more than 30 letters of objection and a 335-name petition. They claim a store would lead to increased traffic, loss of security and a reduced quality of life. They also said there was no need for a supermarket in the area.

Keith Freeman, a retired 61-year-old from Windmill Lane, said he would prefer to see houses on the land.