CREDITON’S new Lidl store is now expected to open in April following a minor planning error, according to a local councillor.

It had been widely publicised the new supermarket would open for business on Thursday, February 6, with the date advertised on a large billboard and on leaflets delivered by Royal Mail.

But the store’s opening was delayed and remains closed at the time of writing.

The reason for the delay was that Lidl had mistakenly appointed to its contractor an amended drainage scheme without asking Mid Devon District Council for approval, the council told Cllr John Downes (Lib Dem, Crediton Boniface) when he asked about the delay.

Lidl has since corrected its error, asking for retrospective approval of the amended drainage scheme, and the council has given it the thumbs-up.

The store is now scheduled to open in April, Cllr Downes was told – but exactly when has not been revealed.

Lidl is a German discount supermarket chain. Its new Crediton store was granted planning permission in September 2022.

It has been 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 new store will have as many as 114 parking spaces. The site will also include two electric vehicle charging points and 12 bicycle parking spaces.

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.

Lidl 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.

When it opens, Lidl says the store will create up to 40 new jobs for the local economy.