WORK to construct a new budget supermarket in Southampton is nearing completion.

A new Lidl store is on the way to being completed on Shirley High Street.

Officials from the store have said that it will open in early 2020 creating 20 new jobs for the area.

Plans were given the go-ahead by Southampton City Council in July despite rebuffing previous proposals just four months before.

The German discount chain put forward the revamped plans in the summer, which were welcomed by members.

This drew a stark contrast to reactions of the firm’s previous proposals, which were rejected over fears the supermarket would have a negative impact on neighbouring residents.

But Lidl claims its new plans, to build on the old police station site, feature “positive changes” from its previous application.

Changes include moving the store away from Mayflower Road – a key reason the application was rejected.

This is something both planners and residents who attended the meeting agreed on.

No members of the public spoke in objection to the plans at the meeting.

Lidl chiefs said the new store, replacing the retailer’s current Shirley site, would create a “bigger and better” supermarket, as well as an 20 extra jobs.

It will be open from 8am-10pm Monday-Saturday, with reduced hours on Sunday. 115 car park spaces will also be built on the site.

Millbrook ward Labour councillor David Furnell said he believed the scheme had been improved.

He said: “I’m quite impressed by the way Lidl have looked at the plans that were refused and come back with this application.

“There were very minor things that I had issue with, which it looks like have been addressed.”

Conservative leader Dan Fitzhenry, speaking on behalf of Millbrook councillor Steve Galton, said: “This is a scheme that we will look to support. “The original scheme has come some way and that is credit to Lidl, residents, and council officers for coming up with this proposal.”

The plans were unanimously approved.

Oliver McGuinness, regional property director at Lidl, added: “I believe we have addressed the sole reason for refusal."