Plans have been approved for a new Lidl supermarket – despite rivals Tesco trying to stop it.

All 17 members of Swale’s planning committee gave the green light for the German food giants to build a 12,000sq m store at Cowstead Corner in Queenborough, Sheppey.

Lidl’s application was officially accepted by Swale council in October, with council officers recommending its approval ahead of Thursday’s meeting.

Rivals Tesco had requested the council refuse permission, saying Lidl had “failed to provide a credible retail impact assessment of the proposal on the Tesco at Bridge Street and the town centre.”

Tesco claimed if it lost trade at its Bridge Street store, smaller shops would affected and spending in the town centre could fall by 25%.

Lidl’s head of property for Britain, Adam Forsdick, said: “We’ve had an incredible amount of positive feedback from the local community, and are grateful to those 2,000 plus members of the community who have lodged their support for the plans.

“This decision could unlock this multi-million-pound investment on the Isle Sheppey to increase choice, provide jobs, and help local shoppers with the rising cost of living.”

Documents add that the shop – which will be built just metres away from the also recently-approved Aldi store at Neats Court – will bring a "clean and fresh shopping experience to meet the needs of Sheppey residents.”

As well as creating up to 40 new jobs, the new store will include a bakery and its popular ‘middle of Lidl’ aisle which offers discounts on a wide range of items.

Employees will also benefit from being amongs the highest paid in the sector, following Lidl’s increased hourly pay rate starting at £11.40 per hour.

The shop would be served by 119 parking spaces, including accessible bays, parent and child spaces, cycle, and motorcycle bays, plus 11 electric vehicle charging areas.

A new and widened vehicle and pedestrian access would also be created from Queenborough Road, and a new footway and cycle path will be constructed to connect the site to Queenborough.

The store’s exterior will feature a bespoke design in the form of a waved roof structure to symbolise Sheppey’s maritime heritage. There will be extensive landscaping, including tree and shrub planting around the site.

Solar panels are also to be installed on the roof to help capture energy for the store.

Lidl has also earmarked space for an art installation which would be designed by a local artist.

Supporters commented on the Island’s need for a Lidl store, to reduce travelling out of Sheppey to places like Sittingbourne.

Swale councillor and planning committee member, James Hunt, believes support for the application was unlike anything he has seen before.

The Tory representative added: “I think this is a good decision for Sheppey.

“The amount of support given from residents is something I've not seen before on a planning application, so it is something clearly needed.

“More importantly, the applicant and officers have worked well to ensure the proposal is compliant with all the relevant policies to enable it to move forward to being approved.

“With the investment by Lidl and the other businesses in the area, it is great to see people choosing the Island as their home to deliver much-needed jobs and contribution to the local economy.”

Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl has now seen its company grow to have more than 31,000 employees, 966 stores and 13 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales.