PLANS to build more than 70 retirement flats on the former Lidl site in Taunton have been approved.

Developer, Churchill, applied for planning permission to build 72 apartments consisting of 51 one-bedroom and 21 two-bedroom apartments.

The former Lidl store on the site was demolished shortly after it closed in December 2015, when a new outlet was opened 100 metres down the road.

The site has remained vacant ever since.

At a Taunton Deane Borough Council committee meeting on Wednesday (March 27) James Barnes, Churchill’s regional managing director for the South West, told the committee the new designs sought to address all the concerns which councillors had expressed when they refused the application in August last year.

He said: “We’ve focused our efforts on amending the design in light of the feedback received.

“The images that have been produced show how will the scheme will fit in, and be a positive addition to the centre of Taunton, on a high-profile site which has been empty now for more than three years.”

Mr Barnes said his potential residents would be 'active users of the high street' and the development is in a convenient location so residents will have access to the town centre.

Members of the committee were full of praise for the plans and said they were pleased the developer listened to their feedback.

Councillor William Brown said: “I’d like to thank the applicant for listening to what we’ve said, and coming back with a design that’s so much better than the old one. It’s a key site in the town.”

And Councillor Danny Wedderkopp said: “I applaud this application. I live very close to this site – it feels like about 15 years to me since the store closed.

“I think it will lift the appearance of that whole part of the river – I think we need to get on with this and get it built. We’re all going to need something like this in the years ahead.”

Councillor Marcia Hill, who previously original scheme, said she was 'utterly amazed' when she saw the developer's revised plans.

She said: “Everything I had against the original has actually been addressed.

“Losing that huge frontage against the river and breaking it up – if only more developers would just listen and do this.”

The committee voted to approve the plans by margin of 11 votes to none, with one abstention.