A ‘FLAGSHIP’ supermarket may be built in a former council building to employ up to 32 full and part-time staff.

Lidl wants to redevelop the vacant William Knowles Centre in Winterstoke Road.

Store bosses are holding an open day today (Friday) as part of a public consultation.

A spokesman said: “We are aiming to submit a planning application to North Somerset Council by the end of July for a new Lidl flagship store with associated car parking.”

The William Knowles Centre was previously used by the Brandon Trust, which provides services for people with learning disabilities.

North Somerset Council agreed to sell the land 12 months ago for an undisclosed sum.

The land and building was declared surplus to requirements in 2011, after services previously offered there were moved to the @Worle Community Centre at Worle School.

Lidl has now agreed terms to buy the land.

It closed a store in Winterstoke Road in June 2013, 13 years after opening in Weston, but the spokesman said bosses have been looking for an alternative site since.

At the time of the closure, a store spokesman said: “Lidl is searching for a suitable location within Weston to build a new store more in keeping with our modern requirements and the needs and expectations of our customers.”

The sales area for the proposed store would be about 1,286sqm, and plans include 153 car parking bays.

Lidl has created an online petition to give to the council to show there is public support for the scheme.

The petition says: “The Lidl strategy is to offer our customers the highest quality products at the lowest prices via neighbourhood stores serving local needs at convenient locations.

“Lidl’s limited range of products and modest turnover will ensure that any impact on Weston is minimal.”

Its public consultation will be held at Weston Football Club in Winterstoke Road today (Friday) until 5pm.