PLANS for a new £5 million branch of Lidl to be built in York look set to go ahead - despite objections from Asda.

A partially vacant former packaging warehouse in James Street would be demolished to make way for a branch of the discount supermarket if development company S Harrison is given the go-ahead.

City of York Council officers have recommended that members of the planning committee approve the scheme at a meeting on Thursday.

But Asda has asked for the plans to be turned down, saying it has concerns over there being too much parking, road safety issues and the “retail impact” of the scheme on the city centre.

An objection letter submitted to the council on behalf of Asda said: “Proposed parking exceeds City of York Council’s maximum parking standards, as well as parking levels at the Aldi Water Lane store. No details of mechanisms to prevent commuter/shopper parking have been considered – it is suggested that the car park for the Lidl store will therefore become an alternative to expensive city centre parking.

“The right-turn lane at the proposed site access junction would not safely accommodate the proposed service vehicle without obstructing the through lanes at the junction. This is of grave concern given that James Street is a key bus route.”

A report prepared for councillors ahead of the planning meeting says Asda also raised concerns about “inconsistencies in the retail impact assessment resulting in an underestimation in the impact on the city centre, Walmgate and Hull Road local centres”.

The document adds: “The site contains an empty warehouse. The proposal results in a loss of an existing employment site but it has been assessed that there is no existing demand for such buildings in this location.”

The site backs on to Foss Islands Retail Park, including Morrisons, and there is also a branch of Waitrose nearby. Neither of these supermarkets have submitted objections to the plans.

But meeting documents say a resident raised concerns about the parent and child parking at the site, saying it should be closer to the building.

The new supermarket would have an in-store bakery and 130 parking spaces, including four electric car charging bays.

Under the plans, the building once occupied by packaging firm SCA will be replaced by a new £5 million store on the 2.39-acre site.

It will be the city’s second branch following the opening of the Lidl store in Thanet Road in Acomb.

The report by council officers said: “The retail use is compatible with neighbouring uses and the building will be a visual improvement on the existing derelict site.”