THE building of the much-anticipated Lidl store in Crediton is progressing well and a billboard has now been put in place announcing it will open on February 6.

The new store, along with 114 parking spaces, servicing and landscaping is being built on a part of The Rec, the playing fields owned by Queen Elizabeth’s Education Foundation. Lidl paid £800,000 to Queen Elizabeth’s Education Foundation for the site.

The building is in place and the car park and outdoor works are being completed.

Planning conditions included a payment of £87,289 to assist with the flow of traffic through the Western Gateway, St Lawrence Green and the High Street to address air quality within the Crediton Air Quality Management Area.

It has also paid £400,000 to help relocate Crediton Rugby Club and £100,000 to Devon County Council to provide a zebra crossing on Commercial Road, which is almost complete.

The Rugby Club is proposing to move to a new site adjoining the yet-to-begin Pedlarspool/Creedy Bridge development by Bellway for 257 homes, which is in Sandford parish at Exhibition Corner.

The new supermarket will include an in-store bakery.

The site will also include two electric vehicle charging points and 12 cycle parking spaces.

Lidl was granted planning permission for the new store in September 2022.

Once opened, Lidl says the store will create up to 40 new jobs for the local economy.