LIDL have announced a major retail push in the Forest of Dean, expanding the Cinderford site by more than 25 per cent.

And it has also confirmed it is putting the finishing touches to a planning application for a new store on the Lords Hill site in Coleford and that ‘while Lydney is very much an area of interest to us, we have nothing further to confirm at this time’.

The Cinderford sales area will grow from 787m² to 979m², with more parent and child car parking spaces, an extended warehouse.

District and County Councillor Graham Morgan said: "I knew it was in the offing and along with the new GP surgery in Valley Road it will help breathe new life into that end of the town."

Chris Witham, chairman of Cinderford Town Council, said: “The expansion scheme sounds very positive as the site has definitely got some development opportunity."

Cllr Nick Penny mayor of Coleford said: “We are expecting the planning application for the Lords Hill site in the very near future. We anticipate it will significantly grow the footprint in the town centre in the next few years.”

Lidl’ UK’s regional head of property, Glen Stidever, said: “We are delighted that we have submitted an application with Forest planners for the expansion of the Cinderford store.

“If granted this would represent another significant investment in the region, having recently confirmed our intention to also submit a planning application for a new store in Coleford town centre."