Plans to build a budget supermarket in Rickmansworth which looked dead in the water could be revived if the public shows support for the proposal.

Lidl applied to build a store on the former police station site in Rectory Road in 2013 but the plans were thrown out by Three Rivers District Council on the grounds that the land could be used for housing instead.

However in 2015 the Watford Observer reported how Lidl was still “fully committed” to the project, and was looking at the possibility of buying the adjacent fire station to boost its chances of getting the plans approved.

Now Lidl is gauging public opinion ahead of submitting a revised planning application for a new discount supermarket with 42 parking spaces on the same site, although plans to purchase the fire station have now been shelved.

In a statement, Lidl said: "Whilst we were disappointed with the council's decision to refuse planning permission for our new store in Rickmansworth, we strongly believe that a new Lidl store would have an enormously positive impact on the local community.

"We are, therefore, currently considering our options and look forward to providing an update in due course."

Watford Observer:

This Lidl signed was snapped on site earlier last week

As the site is shared with both the fire brigade and ambulance service, priority access will be maintained at all times through the installation of a “wig-wag signal system”, which will allow the emergency services full control of both sides of Rectory Road and the shared egress route.

This will ensure that both services are able to leave the site without delay when responding to emergency incidents, representing an improvement upon the existing situation.

Lidl says the store will have a “limited range of products” of up to 2,000 lines “to encourage the continued use of existing independent and national retailers”.

A website set up by Lidl to advertise the plans states: “The proposed store will provide a local discount food store close to Rickmansworth town centre and will both complement and improve the current shopping provisions within Rickmansworth, helping to create a more sustainable community.”

Lidl bought the former police station for £2.3 million - £500,000 below the value it was given by the Hertfordshire Police Authority - when it was put up for sale in 2012.

The station had been vacant since February 2011 when neighbourhood officers relocated to share office space with Three Rivers District Council in Three Rivers House, Rickmansworth.