A controversial Ashby supermarket is one step closer after next-stage plans emerged.

Demolition proposals have been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) for the Ashfield House office block in Resolution Road on the site where the discount supermarket is set to be built.

Lidl's plan will see the empty office block flattened and make way for a "clean and contemporary" store that will create up to 40 jobs.

Image: Lidl

The scheme has long proven unpopular with locals and some councillors, some of whom fear the new store will lead to traffic "paralysis" on their streets.

Others questioned whether this was the best location for the new store, with some suggesting Ashby's Money Hill development as an alternative.

However, NWLDC gave the green light for the plan last month, despite claims, at committee level, that planning officers had put out a "biased report" in favour of it.

Now, a date has been set for the offices to be torn down.

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A notification of demolition submitted to the council reveals works are due to begin on-site on Thursday, September 12.

The land is expected to be fully cleared by Thursday, October 24.

But no date has yet been published for construction work on the new Lidl store to begin.