Hopes of bringing a Lidl to a coastal town have been dented after council officers recommended the controversial plans be rejected.

The budget supermarket chain launched a fresh bid to build a 2,125 sq m store with 125 parking spaces on land off the Old Thanet Way in Herne Bay in November.

It had a previous application to build on neighbouring land narrowly rejected by city councillors last year, by seven votes to six.

Planning officers had recommended it be turned down because the site is “protected open space”, providing a “natural green buffer” between the main road and nearby homes.

They claimed there was no obvious need for the development that would outweigh the “material harm” it would cause to the area.

The new proposals show the supermarket would be built closer to the Greenhill roundabout; but officers believe the bid should also be turned down.

In a report that will be presented to councillors at tomorrow’s planning committee meeting, they argue the land acts as a “visual buffer alongside the Old Thanet Way”.

“Notwithstanding the amendments made, the site is still designated as protected open space, which the Canterbury District Local Plan seeks to prevent the loss of,” they added.

“The proposed development would lead to the further erosion of the protected open space contrary to Local Plan policy. As such, the application is recommended for refusal.”

The planning officers also state retail capacity forecasts provided by GL Hearn, which were used to shape the district’s Local Plan in 2017, show “there is not a need for the proposed development”.

But Herne Bay town centre councillor Andrew Cook, who supported Lidl's original bid, previously told KentOnline the scheme will help tidy up the “tatty” corner of the main road

“Position-wise, it’s actually better because it clears up the corner, which is a bit tatty," he said.

“I don’t think that on its own will necessarily swing the application in Lidl’s favour, though.

“I’d like to see it happen, but I wouldn’t put my money on it being approved at the moment.”

The planning officers’ report also notes that Kent County Council’s highways team did not raise any objections to the proposals.

The local authority received 360 letters of support for the application from residents living close to the site, and just 20 objecting to it.

Lidl says it received more than 4,100 responses to its own public consultation, with almost 84% of them expressing support for the scheme.

But, in a letter sent to the local authority in December, Barrie Gore, the chairman of the Canterbury branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said their opinions should be “discounted” because they have “no concept or even knowledge” of the land’s importance.

Councillors will consider the application tomorrow (April 2) at the Guildhall in Canterbury.

Officers' recommendations do not need to be followed, with the outcome decided by a vote.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay