A budget supermarket chain is still exploring the possibility of opening a store in Rickmansworth.

Lidl bought land that was formerly the town’s police station in 2012 for £2.3 million with a view to opening a site there.

But the following year Three Rivers District Council rejected the plans because it would like to use the land for homes.

Read more: Work begins to redevelop former pub into flats

Lidl still has no permission to open a store, but according to a planning document published in June, there were “forthcoming” pre-application talks planned about a potential mixed-use development.

A Lidl spokesperson was tight-lipped when questioned this week about whether this meant the land could be used for a Lidl and homes.

They said: “We continue to review all opportunities for this site.”

The supermarket chain has just received retrospective planning permission to continue using the site for storage purposes for the next 12 months.

Plans state storage would not have an impact on any future residential development.

Lidl, which opened a store in Watford in 2019, is due to open in South Oxhey in November. The chain is also set to submit plans for a shop on the World of Water site in Hunton Bridge.

Watford Observer: The Lidl store in South Oxhey. Image: Stephen DanzigThe Lidl store in South Oxhey. Image: Stephen Danzig (Image: Stephen Danzig)

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