PERMISSION has been given for a new supermarket that the original applicant — Lidl — no longer intends to operate.

The company submitted plans in October 2017 for a store on part of the former Larkfield bus garage site in Butterbiggins Road on Glasgow’s South Side.

Documents included with the application stated that Lidl hoped to start construction in April 2018 and open the shop in early 2019.

Glasgow City Council have now approved the development but a revised retail statement reveals that Lidl have changed their mind.

The company originally proposed closing their existing store on Victoria Road and moving to the new site but the document states: “Lidl has now decided not to relocate.”

It adds: “Lidl has decided to stay on this site [Victoria Road] aware of the fact that a competitor may open on the Butterbiggins Road site.”

Withdrawal of the application was an option but the landowner wanted it to be determined.

An operator for the single storey, 2,460-square-metre store has not been identified.

It will be built beside a development of 186 homes currently being built for Link Housing Association.

A separate application for a development of smaller commercial/retail units beside Victoria Road is still being considered.