New delay over half-built Lidl

Work to finish a half-built supermarket in Wolverhampton might not restart until next year, it emerged today.

Lidl had hoped to get the supermarket open in time for Christmas. But a planning row now means that work on the building may not continue again until February - putting back any opening date to the spring.

Lidl was ordered to stop work on the store in Finchfield last month after residents complained about its height. The company has admitted it is 24 inches higher than agreed but blamed drainage problems at the site.

Today it emerged Wolverhampton City Council has set a target date of February 4 to come up with a recommendation for the planning committee.

Matt King, spokesman for Lidl, said the store was just a "matter of weeks" away from being complete but could not say how much the delays had cost the firm.

"The council is mindful of how urgent it is because we have employment on hold," he added. "We had a very positive meeting with officers on Friday and are hoping for a decision before February."

Roadworks at the entrance to the site have been allowed to continue while the dispute is resolved in the interest of public safety and are due to be finished within days.

Lidl is hoping not to have to tear down the store and rebuild it and has voluntarily agreed not to continue construction until a decision is made.

Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, chairman of the planning committee, said: "I will be asking officers to deal with this as quickly as they can.

"There is no roof on the store in parts which could cause problems and it is not fair on residents to leave them waiting to find out what is going to happen."

The supermarket, being built on the site of the former Castlecroft Garage, was originally due to open this month and will create around 30 jobs when open.

By Daniel Wainwright