A councillor has criticised the approval of a new Lidl supermarket in Bournemouth.
BCP Council’s planning committee approved the revised proposal for a store at Westover Retail Park on Castle Lane West during a meeting on 19 March.
The application was brought back to committee after earlier plans were rejected for not using the land effectively, including failing to include housing or space for a cycle route.
Moordown ward councillor Joe Salmon said he was “really disappointed by this decision” and described the approval as a missed opportunity for the area.
He said the brownfield site could have been used as part of a mixed use development including housing and raised concerns about the design of the building.
Councillor Salmon also questioned whether enough evidence had been provided to show that homes could not be built on the site.
He said Bournemouth faces a housing shortage and added that approving a supermarket instead of housing meant the site would not contribute to addressing that need.
The revised Lidl proposal was approved by councillors in line with planning officer recommendations.
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