WORK has started on building a second Lidl store in Christchurch – and details on when residents might be able to flock to the discount supermarket chain's latest site have been revealed.

In a move that sees Homebase scale down its premises at the Christchurch Retail Park off Barrack Road, Lidl has started to overhaul part of the retail unit.

As reported, the DIY chain had applied to BCP Council to split its building, with the supermarket taking around a third of the floorspace.

These plans were approved by BCP Council's planning department in May after no objections were raised by residents, Christchurch Town Council and the unitary authorities various departments.

And now Lidl has set about work creating its store on the site.

A spokesperson for the German international supermarket chain said: "We can confirm that work has begun to bring our second Lidl store to Christchurch and we plan to open in summer 2021.

"The new supermarket will deliver our fresh, high quality and affordable produce to even more of the local community and will create around 40 full and part time jobs.

"We look forward to sharing more details nearer the time."

Once work is complete, the floorspace used by Homebase will have dropped from just under 6,000 sqm to 3,600 sqm. The remainder will be occupied by Lidl.

The supermarket already has a presence in the town with its site in Somerford Road.

In November last year Lidl announced plans to plans double its portfolio.

Locally, this included hopes to open a store in Kinson and relocating its branches in Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre and Boscombe's Sovereign Shopping Centre.

It also wants to introduce new stores in Poole, Swanage, Wimborne, and Lymington should appropriate sites become available.