PLANS to build a new £6m Lidl store in Dumbarton – with the potential of creating as many as 100 new jobs – looks set to be shelved for a second time.

A spokesman for the supermarket retailer confirmed discussions with West Dunbartonshire Council are ongoing and they have submitted updated designs to the local authority.

But the Reporter can reveal the planning committee has recommended councillors reject the application when they meet at the end of the month.

In response, a Lidl spokesman said they remain hopeful.

He added: “Following feedback from both West Dunbartonshire Council and the community, we have actively engaged with the local planners and a number of positive changes were incorporated into our store plans.

“These included adjustments to road access and shop design, including frontage and space for the walkway in-store. We are therefore, naturally extremely disappointed by this recommendation.

“It is our strong belief that our plans for a new Lidl store will be of enormous benefit to the local community. Not only would the new store enhance the shopping experience and create new jobs for the community, it will secure long term investment in Dumbarton for years to come.

“We look forward to discussing the plans with committee members at the meeting on May 30 and remain hopeful of a positive outcome.”

It is believed the plans, which include a 6,000m² retail development spread over four units with three of those units allocated for non-food retailers, will create 41 jobs on top of the 60 or so for the supermarket.

In April 2017, the Reporter told how members of the council’s planning committee were asked to consider refusing permission for the new store in Castle Street by their own Planning and Buildings Standards division.

The previous application for the retail development on the same site was continued in April 2017.

The application was continued in order to allow Lidl to discuss further with officers, to compromise over the design and layout of the proposed development.

However, in a partial climbdown, the committee instead voted in favour of continuing the matter until a later date.

Lidl bosses went back to the drawing board to come up with acceptable plans.

Five previous designs were mooted but all five were deemed ‘unsuitable.’ They have finally come back with a second application.

But Pamela Clifford, WDC planning and building standards manager, who has recommended refusal, says in a council report: “However, it is essential that such redevelopment be of a quality which benefits such a prominent and sensitive site and there is no barrier to designing such a scheme.

“Unfortunately in planning law it would not be possible to approve part of the development as the development must be assessed as a whole.

“The site would not be in-keeping with the character of the surrounding area and would not be of an appropriate quality for this important waterfront and town centre site. The proposal is contrary to the Dumbarton town centre and Waterfront Revised Urban Strategy and fails to create a distinctive development which complies with the six qualities of good design.”

Planning committee will get round the table on May 30, to hear submissions from both their planning experts and representatives from Lidl.